Age Differences in Five Personality Domains Across the Life Span

The present study addresses the issue of age differences in 5 personality domains across the life span in a cross-sectional study. In contrast to most previous studies, the present study follows a methodologically more rigorous approach to warrant that age-related differences in personality structur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental psychology 2008-05, Vol.44 (3), p.758-770
Main Authors: Allemand, Mathias, Zimprich, Daniel, Hendriks, A. A. Jolijn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult. Elderly
Adults
Age difference
Age Differences
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging (Individuals)
Aging - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Character
Cross-sectional analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Developmental psychology
Female
Foreign Countries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Human Development
Humans
Individuality
Inferences
Life Span
Male
Measurement
Measurement Invariance
Measurement Techniques
Middle Aged
Netherlands
Older Adults
Personality
Personality Change
Personality Development
Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data
Personality Traits
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Studies
Variability Measurement
Variances
Young Adults
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Summary:The present study addresses the issue of age differences in 5 personality domains across the life span in a cross-sectional study. In contrast to most previous studies, the present study follows a methodologically more rigorous approach to warrant that age-related differences in personality structure and mean level can be meaningfully compared. It uses data on 50 items of the Five-Factor Personality Inventory (FFPI) available from a study in a large and representative Dutch sample ( N = 2,494; age range: 16 to 91 years) conducted in 1996 for the purpose of establishing norms for the FFPI. After having established strict measurement invariance, tests were made for factor covariances to be equal across age groups, revealing structural continuity of personality. Additionally, factor variances were shown to be equal across age groups. A number of age differences in the mean level of the five personality domains emerged. Specifically, older adults were, on average, more agreeable and, especially, more conscientious than middle-aged and younger adults. Findings from our study suggest that both continuity and change may mark personality over the course of life.
ISSN:0012-1649
1939-0599
DOI:10.1037/0012-1649.44.3.758