Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2002):

On the temporal stability of personality: evidence for differential stability and the role of life experiences.

Full Abstract

The authors investigated the stability of personality and trait affect in young adults. In Studies 1 and 2, young adults were retested on a Big Five personality measure and a trait affect inventory over a 2.5-year and a 2-month period, respectively. Results from Study 1 point to positive mean-level changes; participants scored higher on Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness at Time 2. Affectively, participants experienced less negative affect and more positive affect at Time 2. Results from both retests provide clear evidence of differential stability. Affective traits were consistently less stable than the Big Five. Other analyses suggest that life events influence the stability of affective traits more than the Big Five.

Learn Faster Today      Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Vaidya, Jatin G (JG); Gray, Elizabeth K (EK); Haig, Jeffrey (J); Watson, David (D);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242-1407, USA. jatin-vaidya(-atsign-)uiowa.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of personality and social psychology (J Pers Soc Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Dec; vol 83 (issue 6) : pp 1469-84

Dates: Created 2002/12/25; Completed 2003/06/24; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12500825, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Affect - physiology Female Humans Life Change Events Male

Personality - physiology Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data Questionnaires Regression Analysis Students - psychology Time Factors

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Personality and the subjective effects of acute amphetamine in healthy volunteers. 29 Apr 2006
• Antagonistic characteristics are positively associated with inflammatory markers independently of trait negative emotionality. 26 Jan 2008
• Homesickness among students in two cultures: antecedents and consequences. 29 Apr 2002
• Gene-environment interplay in affect and dementia: emotional modulation of cognitive expression in personal outcomes. 30 Dec 2003
• Personality and gender differences in effects of d-amphetamine on risk taking. 29 Nov 2007
• Personality characteristics in chronic and non-chronic allergic conditions. 29 Jan 2008
• A validation and short form of the Basic Character Inventory. 30 Mar 2008
• Cellular and humoral immunity, mood and exam stress: the influences of self-hypnosis and personality predictors. 30 Jul 2001
• The structure of emotional expressivity: each emotion counts. 30 May 2002
• The necessities and luxuries of mate preferences: testing the tradeoffs. 30 May 2002

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.