Neuroticism In Adolescence Research Articles

Association between parental phubbing and short-form video addiction: A moderated mediation analysis among Chinese adolescents

BackgroundShort-form video applications have spread rapidly and gained popularity among adolescents for their interactivity, sociality, and personalization. However, excessive and uncontrolled use has also caused some adolescents to develop short-form video addiction (SFVA). Although parental phubbing has been shown to be a risk factor for SFVA in adolescents, its intermediate mechanisms, particularly the emotional mediation mechanisms, remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationships among parental phubbing, SFVA, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and neuroticism in adolescents. MethodsAdolescents aged 13–19 (N = 5785) were recruited from Shandong Province, China, as participants in 2023. Participants were asked to complete five self-report questionnaires, including the Parental Phubbing Behavior Questionnaire (PPBQ), Short-Form Video Addiction (SFVA) Scale, The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD20), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale, and Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory (Brief Version) (CBF-PI-B). ResultsThe results indicate that the influence of parental phubbing on short-form video addiction among adolescents is mediated by symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, neuroticism moderates the association between parental phubbing and symptoms of depression and anxiety. LimitationsCross-sectional design limits causal inferences. Reliance on self-report scales. ConclusionsThese findings contribute to a better understanding of the systemic impact mechanisms of negative family interactions on SFVA. Moreover, prevention and intervention strategies targeting high neuroticism and symptoms of depression and anxiety may help prevent the developmental pathway from parental phubbing to SFVA.

ADHD Symptoms in Childhood and Big Five Personality Traits in Adolescence: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study in Girls

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental condition characterized by developmentally extreme and impairing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Great interest has emerged in the ways ADHD and its underlying symptom dimensions relate to the development of personality traits. Much extant research on this topic is cross-sectional, relying on self-report measures and male samples. Herein, we present data from a prospective, longitudinal study of a socioeconomically and racially diverse sample of girls, including those with ADHD and a matched neurotypical comparison sample. We examined how parent- and teacher-reported ADHD in middle childhood relate to self-reported Big Five personality traits in adolescence. As expected, childhood ADHD diagnosis prospectively predicted lower self-reported Conscientiousness, lower Agreeableness, and higher Neuroticism in adolescence. With ADHD diagnosis covaried, Inattention (IA) predicted only low Conscientiousness, Hyperactivity/Impulsivity (HI) predicted only low Agreeableness, and neither predicted adolescent Neuroticism. An exploratory moderator analysis showed that family income moderated the effects of IA and HI on the negativity of adolescent self-descriptions of their own personalities, with more pronounced negative effects for girls in families with higher (rather than lower) income. Familial pressures to achieve in higher-income families may be linked to more pronounced negative ramifications of ADHD on personality development.

Neuroticism and Adolescent Problematic Mobile Social Media Use: A Moderated Mediation Model

Although previous studies have confirmed the influence of neuroticism on problematic mobile social media use, mechanisms underlying this relation have not been well-understood. The present study investigated the mediating effect of self-control, as well as the moderating role of family socioeconomic status (FSES). A total of 1146 adolescents’ data (Mage = 16.11, SDage = 0.97, 498 boys) were collected. Participants completed questionnaires about neuroticism, self-control, problematic mobile social media use, and FSES. The moderated mediation analysis showed that self-control mediated the positive association between neuroticism and problematic mobile social media use. In addition, FSES moderated the negative relation between self-control and problematic mobile social media use. Specifically, compared with adolescents in low FSES, the association between self-control and problematic mobile social media use was stronger for adolescents in high FSES. This study advanced our understanding of the development of problematic mobile social media use by revealing the potential mechanism between adolescent neuroticism and problematic mobile social media use.

Relationship of Gaming Disorder with parenting based on low affection-communication and personality trait of neuroticism in adolescents.

Gaming Disorder is increasingly common in adolescents. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between parenting, personality traits, and Gaming Disorder. An observational and cross-sectional study in six secondary schools of Castelló, obtaining a final sample of 397 students. Adolescents with Gaming Disorder had lower scores in Adolescent Affection-Communication (F = 8.201; p < 0.001), Father's Warmth (F = 3.459; p = 0.028), and Father's Acceptance/Involvement (F = 5.467; p = 0.003), and higher scores in Mother's Revoking Privileges (F = 4.277; p = 0.034) and Father's Indifference (F = 7.868; p = 0.002) than healthy participants. Male sex was a risk factor for Gaming Disorder (OR = 12.221; p = 0.004), while Adolescent Affection-Communication (OR = 0.908; p = 0.001) and Agreeableness (OR = 0.903; p = 0.022) were protective factors. Data modeling described the protective effect that Adolescent Affection-Communication had on Gaming Disorder, which was both directly (B = -0.20; p < 0.001) and indirectly mediated by Neuroticism (B = -0.20; p < 0.001), while Neuroticism itself was a risk factor for Gaming Disorder (B = 0.50; p < 0.001). These results reflect that Parental style with low affection and communication was directly and indirectly related to the Gaming Disorder, as well as male sex and personality trait of Neuroticism.

Going beyond the mean in examining relationships of adolescent non-cognitive skills with health-related quality of life and biomarkers in later-life

Several studies have established associations between early-life non-cognitive skills and later-life health and health behaviours. However, no study addresses the more important policy concern about how this relationship varies along the health distribution. We use unconditional quantile regression to analyse the effects of adolescent non-cognitive skills across the distributions of the health-related quality of life at age 50 and biomarkers at age 45 years. We examine the effects of measures of conscientiousness, agreeableness and neuroticism recorded at age 16 for 3585 individuals from the National Child Development Study. Adolescent conscientiousness is positively associated with ability to cope with stress and negatively associated with risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-age. Adolescent agreeableness is associated with higher health-related quality of life and lower physiological ‘wear and tear’, but negatively associated with ability to cope with stress in middle-age. Adolescent neuroticism is associated with lower health-related quality of life, higher physiological ‘wear and tear’, and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-age. All of these associations are stronger at the lower end of the health distribution except for the cardiovascular risk biomarkers. These associations are robust to correcting for attrition using inverse probability weighting and consistent with causal bounds assuming proportional selection on observables and unobservables. They suggest policies that improve non-cognitive skills in adolescence could offer most long-term health benefit to those with the poorest health.

Cognitive biases predict symptoms of depression, anxiety and wellbeing above and beyond neuroticism in adolescence

BackgroundAdolescence represents a period of vulnerability to affective disorders. Neuroticism is considered a heritable risk factor for depression, but is not directly amenable to intervention. Therefore, it is important to identify the contributions of modifiable risk factors. Negative cognitive biases are implicated in the onset and maintenance of affective disorders in adults, and may represent modifiable risk factors in adolescence. Aim(s)This study sought to assess to what extent cognitive biases are able to predict depression, anxiety and wellbeing beyond that of neuroticism in adolescents. MethodsAdolescents (N = 99), recruited from Scottish secondary schools (54.5% female; mean age = 14.7), ensured a sample representing the breadth of the mental health spectrum. In line with prevalence estimates, 18% of this sample demonstrated clinical levels of depression symptoms. Cognitive biases of autobiographical memory, self-referential memory, ambiguous scenarios interpretation, facial expression recognition, rumination and dysfunctional attitudes were assessed. Depression, anxiety, and wellbeing were indexed using the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and the BBC Subjective Wellbeing Scale. ResultsRegression analyses demonstrated neuroticism to significantly predict depression, anxiety and wellbeing. The addition of cognitive biases resulted in a significant increase of explained variance with final models explaining just over 50% of variances of depression, anxiety and wellbeing. ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that cognitive biases explain mental health symptoms over and above that of neuroticism. Depressive symptomology was particularly related to self-referential memory bias, while anxiety was predicted by interpretive bias. The key clinical implication is that targeting specific biases based on diagnostic features may be of particular benefit in alleviating distress and promoting wellbeing.

Gender Differences in Adolescent Neuroticism

Societal sphere of adolescence-family milieu and peer context are important in terms of their normative and positive advancement. Appearance anxiety affects the attitudes and behaviours of both males and females but gender often temperate the strength of these relationships. The aim of this research is to examine the influence of perception of individual attractiveness and interpersonal relationship (with parents) on neuroticism in adolescent boys and girls. A sample of 100 adolescents selected randomly (Age-16-18 years) from different schools in Dibrugarh were considered for the study. Findings of the study revealed significant correlation of both the variables on neuroticism in adolescents. The correlation was negative for a cordial level of parent child relationship and positive for the remaining variable. Gender differences were noted in the degree of neuroticism as well as in appraisal of self and stress tolerance in interpersonal relations. In the context of the present changing social dynamics, the results of the present study have implications for both individual counseling as well as for the inherent discrimination in the process of socialization. In the former context it implies the need to sensitize girls and boys to the importance of self acceptance and positivity in attitude and appraisal of self and others to develop into well adjusted individuals. In the latter context it implies the significance of a non-discriminating socialization process for both boys and girls where parents encourage their daughters to develop a positive self-image and a hardy personality.

A Role for the DRD4 Exon III VNTR in Modifying the Association Between Nicotine Dependence and Neuroticism

Neurotic psychopathology has been extensively examined as a risk factor for nicotine dependence (ND). Genetic stratification may partially explain variability in risk estimates. Genetic variants that compromise dopaminergic neurotransmission may motivate exposure to dopamine-stimulating agents, including nicotine. The 7-repeat allele of a Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in DRD4 (and evolutionary derivatives 5, 6, and 8 repeats; 7R+) is associated with reduced dopamine receptor function. The purpose of this study was to examine association between both smoking initiation (SI) and progression to ND by young adulthood and (a) history of neuroticism during adolescence, (b) DRD4 7R+, and (c) interaction between neuroticism and DRD4 7R+. Participants were drawn from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study, a longitudinal study of the health and well-being of young Australians across 8 waves (14-24 years). Neuroticism was measured at Waves 3 and 6 (mean 15.9 and 17.4 years). SI was defined as any smoking at any wave. ND was measured at Wave 8 (mean 24.1 years). Genotype data for the DRD4 VNTR were available for 839 participants. While adolescent neuroticism was associated with SI, evidence for association with progression to ND was weak. However, there was evidence of interaction between neuroticism and DRD4 7R+: The odds of progression to ND among those with a history of neuroticism were more than 3.5-fold higher among 7R+ carriers. Without considering stratification by 7R+, the association between progression to ND and neuroticism would have been assumed barely significant. However, among those carrying DRD4 7R+, risk of progression was considerably intensified.

Blue notes: Coping by music listening predicts neuroticism changes in adolescence.

It is important to understand distinctive developmental specificities of coping in adolescence and how these can relate to personality development. Adolescents can actively use music listening as a coping resource to maintain emotional stability and this is likely to influence their personality development. The aim of this study was to examine if interactions between 3 styles of coping by music listening (emotion oriented, problem oriented, and avoidance/disengagement oriented) could predict changes in adolescent neuroticism. This 2-wave longitudinal study followed 336 adolescent girls and boys over a 6-month period. In adolescents combining high neuroticism (baseline) and low avoidance-oriented coping, problem-oriented coping predicted lower neuroticism. In adolescents combining high neuroticism (baseline) with high avoidance-oriented coping, problem-oriented coping predicted higher neuroticism. In adolescent girls presenting high avoidance-oriented coping, emotion-oriented coping predicted higher neuroticism. Overall, avoidance/disengagement coping by music listening may represent a short-term risk/precipitating factor of increasing neuroticism in adolescence.

Is the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptom of Worry Just Another Form of Neuroticism?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a commonly occurring anxiety disorder that many times is characterized by an onset in adolescence and symptoms that increase in severity into adulthood. Due to the persistent nature of the disorder's primary symptom of worry, which appears more related to a personality trait than an anxiety state, the current DSM-IV nosology of GAD has been debated. Recently, evidence is accumulating that suggests that the GAD symptom of worry is strongly related to the personality trait of neuroticism. This study investigates whether the GAD symptom of worry and neuroticism are best explained as 1 general factor or as 2 distinct entities in adolescents. Additionally, the interrelation over time between the GAD symptom of worry and neuroticism in adolescents is examined. Dutch secondary school adolescents from the general community were prospectively studied annually for 5 years. The adolescent population consisted of 923 early adolescents (49% girls) and 390 middle adolescents (57% girls), with mean ages of 12 and 16 years, respectively, on the first measurement wave. At all 5 waves, the adolescents completed self-rated measures of GAD and neurotic symptoms. Confirmatory factor analyses established that the GAD symptom of worry and neuroticism are 2 distinct entities, and structural equation modeling demonstrated very strong interrelated properties between these 2 entities. These findings did not differ between the adolescent sex and age groups. The findings suggest that the GAD symptom of worry is more akin to a personality trait than an anxiety state in adolescents, which may hold implications for the current nosology and treatment of GAD.

Neuroticism and sleep-onset: What is the long-term connection?

People with sleep-onset problems often experience neuroticism. To what extent the one problem leads to the other is unknown. We used self-reported data from a Swedish longitudinal project to examine developmental links between neuroticism and sleep-onset problems. A sample of 212 people, followed from birth to midlife, was part of a cohort study spanning 37 years. Adolescent neuroticism was measured at age 16 with the High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ, Form A) and in midlife at age 37 with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Sleep-onset problems were measured at ages 15 to 17, 25, and 37 with items developed for the Solna Project. Adolescent neuroticism failed to predict sleep-onset problems. Instead, sleep-onset problems in adolescence and young adulthood predicted midlife neuroticism. We found that sleep-onset problems during adolescence were a direct risk for midlife neuroticism, as well as, an indirect risk through continuance of sleep-onset problems into adulthood. This study provides longitudinal support for adolescent sleep-onset problems as a potent risk factor for heightened neuroticism in midlife.

Neuroticism in Adolescence and Cognitive Function in Midlife in the British 1946 Birth Cohort: The HALCyon Program

We examined whether higher levels of neuroticism in adolescence were associated with poorer cognitive function in midlife in 2,071 members of the British 1946 birth cohort. Higher neuroticism at age 13 was associated with poorer performance on tests of verbal ability, verbal fluency, and verbal memory at age 53 in sex-adjusted analyses. However, higher neuroticism was also associated with poorer cognitive performance at age 8. After adjustment for childhood cognition or educational attainment, the associations between neuroticism at age 13 and midlife cognition ceased to be statistically significant. The link between neuroticism and subsequent cognitive ability may be a reflection of a long-standing correlation between the stable aspects of these traits since childhood, but further measurements of both traits are needed to confirm this.

The Genetic Architecture of Neuroticism in 3301 Dutch Adolescent Twins as a Function of Age and Sex: A Study From the Dutch Twin Register

The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences to variation in adolescent neuroticism as a function of age and sex. Neuroticism was assessed using the Amsterdamse Biografische Vragenlijst (ABV): a self-report personality instrument similar in content to the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Genetic modeling procedures, including age as modifier, were fitted to the total sample of 3301 Dutch adolescent twins aged 12 to 17 years (mean age 15.5). Significant influences of additive genetic factors (.59, 95% confidence intervals [CI] .54-.63) and unshared environmental factors (.41, 95% CI .37-.45) were found. Our data did not support a role of shared environment. Results showed that different genes may influence variation in neuroticism between girls and boys. No interaction was found between the variance components and age. Results generally support prior findings in adults and young children that neuroticism is influenced principally by additive genetic and unique environmental factors. The magnitude of the genetic component appears higher in the present sample of adolescents than in most studies of adults. The present study suggests that, in adolescence, different genes are expressed in boys and girls.

The Genetic Architecture of Neuroticism in 3301 Dutch Adolescent Twins as a Function of Age and Sex: A Study From the Dutch Twin Register

AbstractThe objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences to variation in adolescent neuroticism as a function of age and sex. Neuroticism was assessed using the Amsterdamse Biografische Vragenlijst (ABV): a self-report personality instrument similar in content to the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Genetic modeling procedures, including age as modifier, were fitted to the total sample of 3301 Dutch adolescent twins aged 12 to 17 years (mean age 15.5). Significant influences of additive genetic factors (.59, 95% confidence intervals [CI] .54–.63) and unshared environmental factors (.41, 95% CI .37–.45) were found. Our data did not support a role of shared environment. Results showed that different genes may influence variation in neuroticism between girls and boys. No interaction was found between the variance components and age. Results generally support prior findings in adults and young children that neuroticism is influenced principally by additive genetic and unique environmental factors. The magnitude of the genetic component appears higher in the present sample of adolescents than in most studies of adults. The present study suggests that, in adolescence, different genes are expressed in boys and girls.

The longitudinal and concurrent role of neuroticism for partner relationships.

Neurotic characteristics of spouses have often been associated with dissatisfaction with the partner relationship. This article addresses the question whether the link between dissatisfaction with the relationship and neuroticism appears during the partner relationship, or whether it is present before the person enters the relationship. Utilizing data from a Swedish longitudinal project, satisfaction with the partner relationship was linked with neuroticism both in adolescence and in adulthood. Adolescent neuroticism was measured at age 15 with the High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ), and adult neuroticism was measured at age 37 with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-I). Results showed that a lower degree of satisfaction in partner relationships in mid-life was linked with higher concurrent neuroticism scores. Opposing most of the previous studies, this association appeared for both men and women. Higher neuroticism in adolescence was, however, not significantly associated with satisfaction in partner relationships in mid-life.

Neuroticism in adolescence and psychotic symptoms in adulthood.

The aims of this research were to examine the associations between the personality trait of neuroticism in adolescence and later psychotic symptoms, taking into account potential confounding factors. Data were gathered over the course of a longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand born young people (N=1265). Over the course of the study, data were gathered on: (a) neuroticism at age 14; (b) psychotic symptoms predominantly subclinical, assessed on the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90), at ages 18 and 21; (c) a range of potential confounding factors including measures of childhood adversity and co-morbid mental disorders. Young people in the highest quartile of neuroticism at age 14 had rates of psychotic symptoms that were two to three times higher than those in the lowest quartile. After statistical adjustment for confounding factors, including childhood adversity and co-morbid mental disorders, the association between neuroticism and later psychotic symptoms reduced but remained statistically significant (P<0.05). After adjustment for confounding, young people with high levels of neuroticism had rates of psychotic symptoms that were between 1.5 to 1.8 times higher than those with low levels of neuroticism. Early neuroticism may be a precursor to the onset of psychotic symptoms. The mechanisms underlying this association are unclear, but may relate to overlapping features between prodromal phases of psychosis and items that measure neuroticism.

Perceptions of the Family, Personality Characteristics, and Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms

To explore the influences of adolescent self-reported and interviewer-rated perceptions of family functioning, parent perceptions of the family, and adolescent personality on internalizing symptoms. Two hundred one adolescent twins (mean age = 16.2 +/- 2.0 years; 90% white) completed the Family Assessment Device (FAD), Eysenck Personality Inventory, Children's Depression Inventory, and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children and participated in an interview about their relationships with parents. Parents completed the FAD. Twins were divided into two samples for analysis. Multiple regression analyses in sample A showed that adolescent perceptions of family function accounted for 35% of the variance in depressive symptoms, but did not significantly predict anxiety. Self-reported perceptions were more strongly associated with symptoms than were interviewer-rated perceptions. Parent FAD and adolescent neuroticism accounted for 24% of the variance in adolescent self-reported perceptions. Results were similar in sample B. Adolescent perceptions of the family are linked to their depressive symptoms and associated with neuroticism. Adolescents who are high in neuroticism may perceive their families more negatively. Clinicians need to carefully discern components of family function that lead to teen depression versus biased cognitions that lead teenagers to perceive family relationships as negative.