HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Cited by other online articles Google Scholar Articles by Steunenberg, B. Articles by Kerkhof, A. J. F. M. Articles citing this Article PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Steunenberg, B. Articles by Kerkhof, A. J. F. M.

Stability and Change of Neuroticism in Aging

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
² Research Institute Psychology and Health
³ Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
⁴ Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO)
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Vrije University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Address correspondence to Bas Steunenberg, Clinical Psychology, Vrije University, Van der Boechorstraat 1, Amsterdam, 1081 BT, The Netherlands. E-mail: b.steunenberg{at}psy.vu.nl

Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used to study the relationship between neuroticism and aging. At baseline, cross-sectional analyses of data from 2,117 respondents (aged 55–85 years, M = 70) showed no significant age differences. The magnitude of the 3- and 6-year stability coefficients was high, and 12% of the elderly participants showed a clinically relevant mean level change. Longitudinal multilevel analyses showed a small but statistical significant change with aging, but the mean change was not considered clinically relevant. A U-formed course was found, showing a slight decrease until respondents reached the age of 70. Adjusting the model for physical health-related variables slightly increased the stability. An additional interaction analysis showed that the individual trajectory of neuroticism was not affected by the physical health status. In conclusion, neuroticism remains rather stable in middle and older adulthood, with some apparent increase in late life.

This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)

				A. Terracciano, R. R. McCrae, and P. T. Costa Jr Longitudinal Trajectories in Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey Data: Results From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2006; 61(2): P108 - P116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]