A recent study led by USC researchers has found that personality traits can influence vulnerability to extended mental distress during major crises, specifically focusing on neuroticism. The research analyzed data collected from over 4,000 U.S. adults through the Understanding America Study, surveying more than 100,000 responses from 2019 to early 2024, allowing comparisons of mental health before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Lead author Marco Angrisani, a senior economist at the USC Center for Economic and Social Research, reported that individuals with higher neuroticism scores experienced significantly greater increases in anxiety and depression symptoms during the pandemic compared to those with lower scores. Angrisani noted, "There is a wide variety of mental health responses to large-scale societal stressors. Our study shows that personality traits, and neuroticism in particular, play a role in shaping heterogeneous responses in a major crisis across individuals."
The research identified five primary personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. According to the findings, individuals in the top 25% of neuroticism scores experienced increases in moderate to severe mental distress that were 11 to 20 percentage points higher than those in the lowest quarter.
Throughout the pandemic, participants with high neuroticism perceived greater health and financial risks, engaged in protective behaviors, and reported lower levels of physical activity and relaxation, along with increased alcohol consumption. Other traits displayed weaker associations with mental health outcomes, while conscientiousness seemed to offer modest protective effects, particularly for older adults.
These findings may help clinicians and emergency planners identify individuals who might require additional support after public health emergencies. Angrisani emphasized that personality should be one aspect of a broader risk assessment rather than a sole factor for treatment.
The study advocates for ongoing monitoring and tailored interventions for individuals exhibiting significant and persistent symptoms, rather than treatment based solely on personality scores. It also cautions that the observational nature of the research does not establish causation and that all measures were self-reported, which may limit the applicability of the findings outside the United States.
The study was published in PLOS One.