title: Affective lability: separable from neuroticism and the other big four?
abstract: The goals of the current study were to use specific measures of affective lability and neuroticism to examine the nomological network surrounding both constructs and to test the degree to which a measure of general personality can account for variability in affective lability. Using a psychiatric outpatient sample (n=48), we assessed personality disorder (PD) symptoms, personality, and level of functioning across a range of domains. Neuroticism and affective lability demonstrated a small but significant positive correlation and manifested a divergent pattern of correlations with PDs and measures of functioning. Specifically, neuroticism was correlated primarily with Borderline, Avoidant and Dependent PDs, whereas affective lability was primarily correlated with Cluster B PDs. In addition, neuroticism evinced significant correlations with a range of functional impairments, whereas affective lability was correlated only with self-harm. Regression analyses demonstrated that a substantial portion of the variance in affective lability scales can be explained by Five-Factor Model domains, particularly if the narrower facets are used. The current findings suggest that neuroticism and affective lability are related but in a complex manner that involves other basic personality domains in addition to neuroticism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3013, United States.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kamen
authors.forename: Lauren R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pryor
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Gaughan
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003027:Cluster Headache; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult