Midlife concerns and short-term personality change in middle adulthood

M.A.G. van Aken; J.J.A. Denissen; S.J.T. Branje; J.S. Dubas; L. Goossens

doi:10.1002/per.603

Midlife concerns and short-term personality change in middle adulthood

M.A.G. van Aken, J.J.A. Denissen, S.J.T. Branje, J.S. Dubas, L. Goossens

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Abstract

In this study, it was expected that personality change would be related to parents' concerns in various domains of midlife functioning. Personality was found to be moderately stable, but small but reliable change was also found. Fathers' change in personality was uniquely related to their life satisfaction, work stress and perceptions of the level of their adolescent children's internalising problems, but not to perceived partner support. By comparison, mothers' change in personality was only uniquely related to their life satisfaction. These results suggest that personality change in midlife is associated with the successful adaptation to midlife concerns. This pattern is consistent with social investment theories of personality development, though cross‐lagged longitudinal research is needed to substantiate this conclusion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	497-513
Number of pages	17
Journal	European Journal of Personality
Volume	20
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/per.603
Publication status	Published - Sept 2006

Keywords

personality change
middle adulthood
midlife concerns
social investment theory

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title = "Midlife concerns and short-term personality change in middle adulthood",

abstract = "In this study, it was expected that personality change would be related to parents' concerns in various domains of midlife functioning. Personality was found to be moderately stable, but small but reliable change was also found. Fathers' change in personality was uniquely related to their life satisfaction, work stress and perceptions of the level of their adolescent children's internalising problems, but not to perceived partner support. By comparison, mothers' change in personality was only uniquely related to their life satisfaction. These results suggest that personality change in midlife is associated with the successful adaptation to midlife concerns. This pattern is consistent with social investment theories of personality development, though cross‐lagged longitudinal research is needed to substantiate this conclusion. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.",

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AU - Denissen, J.J.A.

AU - Branje, S.J.T.

AU - Dubas, J.S.

AU - Goossens, L.

PY - 2006/9

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AB - In this study, it was expected that personality change would be related to parents' concerns in various domains of midlife functioning. Personality was found to be moderately stable, but small but reliable change was also found. Fathers' change in personality was uniquely related to their life satisfaction, work stress and perceptions of the level of their adolescent children's internalising problems, but not to perceived partner support. By comparison, mothers' change in personality was only uniquely related to their life satisfaction. These results suggest that personality change in midlife is associated with the successful adaptation to midlife concerns. This pattern is consistent with social investment theories of personality development, though cross‐lagged longitudinal research is needed to substantiate this conclusion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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KW - midlife concerns

KW - social investment theory

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SP - 497

EP - 513

JO - European Journal of Personality

JF - European Journal of Personality

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ER -

Midlife concerns and short-term personality change in middle adulthood

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Keywords

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