Cross-sectional personality differences from age 16–90 in a Vietnamese sample

Abstract

Although a coherent picture of personality development in adulthood is emerging, the literature is limited to cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of Western samples. In the current study, cross-sectional age differences in the Big Five personality traits were examined in a sample of Vietnamese participants whose ages ranged from 16 to 90. Extraversion scores were lower for older participants, while agreeableness, emotional stability, and intellect were higher for older participants. Conscientiousness showed the greatest differences between younger and older age groups and a curvilinear relationship with age with rapid increases until later adulthood when it leveled off.