title: Personality characteristics in childhood and outcomes in adulthood: findings from a 30 year longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Personality has been associated with a variety of outcomes in adulthood. Most of the literature related to mental state disorder and personality is cross sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from more than 900 participants of the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) were examined. Extroversion and neuroticism were measured at 14 years old and social outcomes at age 30. The presence of mental state disorder between 18-30 years old was identified. Multiple potential confounders in childhood were included in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neuroticism at fourteen was significantly correlated with multiple environmental exposures whereas extroversion had relatively few associations. Regression analysis found that neuroticism at 14 predicted depression, anxiety, suicidality and overall mental health problems at 30 as well as poor self-esteem but not relationship quality or wellbeing. Extroversion at 14 predicted alcohol and drug dependence and overall mental health problems, but also predicted improved social wellbeing, self-esteem and relationship quality at 30.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this analysis extroversion interacts with significantly fewer environmental factors than neuroticism in predicting adult outcomes. Neuroticism at 14 years predicts poorer mental health outcomes in adulthood. Extroversion in childhood may be a protective factor in the development of mental disorder other than alcohol use disorders. Extroverted adolescents have more positive social outcomes at 30 years.
authors: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK giles.newton-howes@otago.ac.nz.
authors: Giles
authors: G
authors: Newton-Howes
authors: Christchurch Health and Development Study, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Horwood
authors: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Mulder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000075384:Neuroticism; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: Personality disorder; extroversion; introversion; longitudinal study; mental health outcomes; social outcome