Neurotic individuals may find a shield against mental illness through the traits of extroversion and conscientiousness.
A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Research in Personality in October 2017 has added to the growing body of evidence suggesting that mental health treatment should take into account an individual's unique combination of personality traits, rather than focusing solely on neuroticism as a risk factor for mental illness.
The study, led by researchers Naragon-Gainey and Simms, interviewed and administered questionnaires to 463 participants who had received psychiatric treatment within the past two years. The research focused on analyzing neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness, the Big Five personality traits most strongly associated with mood and anxiety disorders.
The results of the study suggest that clinicians may be able to utilize "protective traits" in treatment for individuals with high levels of neuroticism. Higher levels of conscientiousness and extroversion can shield an individual who also has higher levels of neuroticism from developing multiple mental illnesses associated with neuroticism.
Neuroticism, which is the key risk factor, is characterized by negative and anxious emotional states. Individuals scoring high in this trait tend to experience more intense negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, and depression. High neuroticism is consistently associated with increased vulnerability to both anxiety and depressive disorders because it involves emotional instability and heightened sensitivity to stressors.
However, the study found that the protective effects of extraversion and conscientiousness may vary depending on the specific mental disorder. For instance, high levels of extraversion can help combat the negative effects of neuroticism by gathering social support and increasing positive affectivity through social means, while high conscientiousness can help combat the negative effects by striving towards goals and putting plans into action, reducing withdrawal and avoidance associated with neuroticism.
The study also found evidence of disorder specificity in a psychiatric sample, indicating that the protective effects of extraversion and conscientiousness may vary depending on the specific mental disorder.
In summary, the interplay between neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness strongly influences an individual's risk of developing anxiety and depression. People with high neuroticism but also high conscientiousness and/or extraversion exhibit lower rates of anxiety and depression than those with high neuroticism alone.
This dynamic highlights the complex role personality combinations play in mental health risks and resilience. A personality profile marked by high neuroticism and low extraversion and conscientiousness places individuals at the greatest risk for developing anxiety and depression, while higher extraversion and conscientiousness can serve as mitigating factors against the negative impact of neuroticism on mental health.
It is important to note that extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and neuroticism make up the Big Five personality traits. Understanding the interplay between these traits can provide valuable insights for mental health professionals in tailoring treatment plans to individual needs.
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The groundbreaking study on personality traits and mental health, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, emphasizes the importance of considering an individual's unique personality combination for treatment, beyond just neuroticism as a risk factor. This is particularly relevant for health-and-wellness and mental-health contexts, as understanding the Big Five personality traits – including neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness – can aid mental health professionals in crafting personalized treatment plans, utilizing protective traits to shield individuals from multiple mental illnesses associated with neuroticism.
