Intentional personality change coaching: A four-year longitudinal study

• Published in: International coaching psychology review 2019-10, Vol.14 (2), p.44-56
• Main Authors: Martin-Allan, Jesse, Leeson, Peter, Martin, Lesley Sue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Changes; Coaching; Coping; Efficacy; Intervention; Longitudinal studies; Personality; Personality tests; Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1750-2764; 1750-2764
• DOI: 10.53841/bpsicpr.2019.14.2.44

Introduction: There is an emerging literature which suggests that personality can be changed intentionally through coaching methods, however, the long-term efficacy of such interventions has not been tested. This study aimed to determine the long-term efficacy of an intentional personality change coaching intervention used in Martin, Oades, and Caputi (2014) by conducting a four-year follow-up study. Method: Of the original 50 participants eligible for this follow-up, 23 females and two males (total = 25) completed a NEO PI-R personality questionnaire and a COPE questionnaire on coping styles four years after completing the intervention. Results: The findings indicate that significant personality change was still present four years after the original personality change intervention was conducted. Discussions: These findings suggest that the step-wise process proposed by Martin, Oades, and Caputi (2014) is an effective means of instigating long-term intentional personality change. Conclusions: These findings extend upon the preliminary findings of Martin et al. (2014), suggesting that intentional personality change coaching may be able to produce significant desirable changes in personality which remain stable over time.