Feelings of loneliness can predict changes in key personality traits over time, according to new research published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. Additionally, negative emotions were found to both predict and be predicted by loneliness and neuroticism, indicating a complex, bidirectional relationship at the individual level.
The motivation behind this research was rooted in a shift in our understanding of personality traits. Traditionally viewed as static elements of our identity, recent studies have revealed that our personalities are more malleable than once thought, capable of evolving in response to life’s experiences.
This revelation has led scientists to explore how changes in our psychological and social well-being influence, and are influenced by, changes in personality traits. In his new study, Mohsen Joshanloo builds upon this foundation, examining into how loneliness interacts with personality over time.
“Personality traits have traditionally been viewed as largely static and unchanging. However, empirical data have shown that these traits are more malleable than once thought. Our life experiences can indeed influence our personality traits,” explained Joshanloo, an associate professor at Keimyung University and honorary principal fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Wellbeing Science.
“This updated perspective on personality inspired me to investigate how a significant life experience such as loneliness might be associated with changes in personality traits over time. I was particularly interested in challenging the conventional idea that loneliness is merely a result of personality traits, rather than a factor that can influence them.”
Utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study, a long-term project tracking the lives of U.S. adults over 50, Joshanloo focused on a subsample of 9,671 participants surveyed in 2012, 2016, and 2020. This dataset provided information on loneliness, personality traits, and negative affect. Loneliness was measured using an adapted version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, personality through the Midlife Development Inventory and additional items, and negative affect via the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.
The study employed a sophisticated statistical approach—the random intercept cross-lagged panel model—to tease apart the relationships between these variables over time. This method allowed Joshanloo to differentiate between the influences of personality on loneliness and vice versa, at both the individual and group levels.
Feelings of loneliness were found to predict decreases in three key personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. This suggests that experiencing loneliness can gradually erode our social openness, amiability, and the discipline with which we approach our daily lives.
On the other hand, the trait of neuroticism — a tendency towards negative emotional states — stood out as a significant predictor of increased loneliness in the future. This finding points to a cyclical relationship where higher levels of neuroticism may lead to greater feelings of loneliness, which in turn, could reinforce neurotic tendencies.
“Experiencing increased levels of loneliness is associated with future decreases in extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness,” Joshanloo told PsyPost. “This suggests that reduced levels of loneliness may not only improve our social connections, but also facilitate positive personal growth by enhancing desirable traits.
“Another finding was that undesirable changes in traits such as increased neuroticism or decreased conscientiousness and openness to experience may lead to greater loneliness in the future. On the other hand, positive changes in personality traits can serve as a protective buffer against future loneliness.”
The research also brought to light the significant role of negative emotions in this dynamic. Negative affect — essentially, the experience of negative emotions like sadness or anger — was found to be both a predictor and a consequence of loneliness and neuroticism. This means that not only can feeling bad lead to feeling lonely, but feeling lonely can also make us more prone to feeling bad in the future, creating a challenging cycle of emotional distress and isolation.
“In this study, I accounted for the fact that loneliness is often accompanied by negative emotions,” Joshanloo noted. “Surprisingly, even after controlling for negative affect, many of the associations between personality traits and loneliness remained significant. This suggests that loneliness affects our personality in ways that go beyond just feeling bad. There’s something unique about the experience of loneliness that has lasting consequences.”
While this study marks a significant advance in our understanding of loneliness and personality, it also underscores the need for further research. One limitation is its reliance on a specific demographic (U.S. adults over 50), which may not fully capture the experiences of younger individuals or those from different cultural backgrounds.
Future research could expand on these findings by exploring interventions aimed at mitigating loneliness and promoting positive personality development.
“These findings provide a basis for exploring more comprehensive mental health interventions,” Joshanloo explained. “It is reasonable to expect that a holistic approach that addresses social skills, personality traits, and negative emotions together would be more effective than interventions that focus on only one aspect. Although such multifaceted interventions are currently uncommon, they hold great promise for having a substantial impact. Further research in this area could pave the way for the development of more comprehensive and effective mental health treatments and support systems.”
Joshanloo further elaborated on three key points:
“1. Striving for personal growth by improving personality traits does not equate to self-loathing or trying to become someone else,” the researcher told PsyPost. “This study examined the typical changes that adults naturally experience and found that changes within one’s normal range are consequential. The findings don’t suggest that we need to reject ourselves and become someone else. Rather, they highlight the benefits of becoming better versions of ourselves.”
“2. This study did not examine short-term experiences of loneliness. The findings should not be misinterpreted to suggest that all instances of loneliness lead to profound negative outcomes. Occasional feelings of loneliness are a natural part of the human experience and should be accepted, or at least tolerated. However, the results suggest that a lifestyle characterized by persistent and prolonged loneliness could have significant negative consequences.”
“3. Far from being set in stone, personalities are malleable, with traits that change over time. Recognizing and accepting this potential for change is beneficial to the individual. But while the idea of instant personality transformation may be appealing, personality change tends to unfold gradually and demands considerable sustained effort. Achieving lasting change involves consistently modifying daily routines and behaviors over an extended period of time. Improving one’s personality traits is more like a marathon than a sprint.”
The study, “Within-person associations between personality traits and loneliness controlling for negative affect,” is published in the June 2024 issue of Personality and Individual Differences.
