title: Patterns and sources of adult personality development: growth curve analyses of the NEO PI-R scales in a longitudinal twin study.
abstract: The present study examined the patterns and sources of 10-year stability and change of adult personality assessed by the 5 domains and 30 facets of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Phenotypic and biometric analyses were performed on data from 126 identical and 61 fraternal twins from the Bielefeld Longitudinal Study of Adult Twins (BiLSAT). Consistent with previous research, LGM analyses revealed significant mean-level changes in domains and facets suggesting maturation of personality. There were also substantial individual differences in the change trajectories of both domain and facet scales. Correlations between age and trait changes were modest and there were no significant associations between change and gender. Biometric extensions of growth curve models showed that 10-year stability and change of personality were influenced by both genetic as well as environmental factors. Regarding the etiology of change, the analyses uncovered a more complex picture than originally stated, as findings suggest noticeable differences between traits with respect to the magnitude of genetic and environmental effects.
authors: Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany. wiebke.bleidorn@uni-bielefeld.de
authors: Wiebke
authors: W
authors: Bleidorn
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Kandler
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Riemann
authors: Frank M
authors: FM
authors: Spinath
authors: Alois
authors: A
authors: Angleitner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010641:Phenotype; D011594:Psychometrics; D012931:Social Environment; D012951:Socialization; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult