Age differences in temperament, character and depressive mood: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: This study explores the effect of age on mean‐levels of the personality traits defined in Cloninger's personality taxonomy, and investigates the relevance of personality traits for predicting depression levels in adults aged 18 to 94 years. Method: We divided our sample (466 parti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical psychology and psychotherapy 2008-07, Vol.15 (4), p.266-275
Main Authors: Trouillet, Raphaël, Gana, Kamel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age differences
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety
Character
Correlation analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dependency (Psychology)
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - psychology
Effects
Exploratory Behavior
Female
Harm Reduction
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Impulsive Behavior - epidemiology
Impulsive Behavior - psychology
Male
Mental depression
Middle Aged
Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data
Personality traits
Psychology
Psychometrics
Social Perception
Spirituality
Studies
Temperament
Young Adult
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Summary:Introduction: This study explores the effect of age on mean‐levels of the personality traits defined in Cloninger's personality taxonomy, and investigates the relevance of personality traits for predicting depression levels in adults aged 18 to 94 years. Method: We divided our sample (466 participants) into four age groups (young adult, adult, mature adult and elderly). Personality was measured using the Temperament and Character Inventory, and depression was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Analysis of variance showed mean‐level changes for all the personality traits except Self‐D. Post hoc analyses revealed a decrease in the level of novelty seeking with age and an increase in the level of self‐transcendence for the two oldest age groups. Reward dependence was highest among the youngest participants, whereas harm avoidance was highest for both the youngest and the oldest age groups. Depression correlated positively with harm avoidance and age but negatively with self‐transcendence. Discussion: Impulsiveness, curiosity and social dependency decrease with age, whereas spirituality increases. Young and elderly adults are more fearful and socially inhibited. Harm avoidance and self‐transcendence are the most relevant personality traits for predicting levels of depression. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:1063-3995
1099-0879
DOI:10.1002/cpp.580