The co-development of perceived support and the Big Five in middle and older adulthood
Patrick L Hill, Sara J Weston, Joshua J Jackson
*International Journal of Behavioral Development*
Abstract
The current study examined whether relationships also influence personality trait development during middle and older adulthood, focusing on the individual's perception of support from the relationship partner. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 20,422; mean age = 65.9 years), we examined the longitudinal relationships between Big Five personality trait levels and perceived support from children, family, friends, and spouses.
What we did
Much of what we know about relationships and personality comes from younger adults. We wanted to know whether the same links show up in middle and older adulthood, focusing on how supported people feel by the people around them. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 20,422; mean age = 65.9 years), we looked at how Big Five trait levels relate to perceived support from children, family, friends, and spouses, and how the two change together over time.
What we found
People who reported more positive support and less negative support also tended to score higher on conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness, and lower on neuroticism. The changes went together as well. When someone’s positive support increased over time, their traits tended to shift in what look like adaptive directions.
These are associations, and our analyses cannot say whether support changes personality, personality changes how people perceive support, or both.
This summary is based on the published abstract.
Perceived support and personality changed together in this sample.