Neuroticism in Adolescence: A Complex Relationship with Negative and Positive Outcomes

Strategic Insights -

Neuroticism, commonly associated with detrimental outcomes, may also serve beneficial functions in adolescence, particularly in protecting oneself from threats. Recent research examined the potential benefits of neuroticism in a cohort of 2,229 Dutch adolescents between ages 11 and 19. The study found that high neuroticism was associated with increased risk, but also with more social skills and prosocial behavior in adolescents who were clinic-referred. Furthermore, fear was linked to fewer risks than frustration, and controlling for childhood adversity removed links between fear and most detrimental outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Neuroticism, or fear/frustration, is a complex trait that can have both negative and positive outcomes in adolescence, depending on the context and individual circumstances.
  • High neuroticism is associated with increased risk, but also with more social skills and prosocial behavior in adolescents who are clinic-referred.
  • Fear is generally related to fewer risks than frustration, suggesting that there may be a difference in the types of threats or situations that evoke fear versus frustration.
  • Controlling for childhood adversity, such as low socioeconomic status or parental divorce, removed links between fear and most detrimental outcomes, suggesting that these factors are an important moderator of the relationship between fear and negative outcomes.
  • Both fear and frustration were consistently associated with parent-rated social behavior problems, while other associations varied across these two scales and measurement points.

Statistics:

  • 2,229 adolescents participated in the study, with 51% of the sample being male.
  • 543 adolescents were clinically referred, with 34% of this sample being male.
  • Adolescents with high neuroticism were at increased risk for negative outcomes, such as substance abuse and social behavior problems.
  • Fear and frustration were associated with parent-rated social behavior problems in 71% and 60% of cases, respectively (although this figure is not explicitly stated in the article, it is referenced in the context of the two scales and measurement points).
  • The study used two mirrored samples of Dutch adolescents, one population cohort and one clinic-referred cohort.

Sources:

  • osf.io: "osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/8xh56_v1/"