Klimstra Theo A, Luyckx Koen, Hale Iii William W, Goossens Luc
Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands,
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014 Aug;49(8):1319-33. doi: 10.1007/s00127-014-0827-y. Epub 2014 Jan 31.
The directionality of effects in the associations between personality and externalizing behavior (i.e., delinquency, soft drugs use, and alcohol abuse) is unclear. Moreover, previous studies only examined personality trait domains when examining these associations, whereas personality facets underlying these broad domains provide more specificity. To address these limitations, the present study examined the directionality of effects between externalizing behavior and personality while employing a facet-level approach to personality.
Cross-lagged panel models were employed to four annual measurement waves of longitudinal data on 485 Belgian-Caucasian late adolescents (87.4 % female; M age = 18.63 years, SD = 0.61). Participants filled out the NEO-FFI as a measure of personality, the Deviant Behavior Scale as a measure of delinquency, and single items for soft drugs use and alcohol abuse on all four measurement occasions.
The incremental value of personality facets over broad trait domains was demonstrated, as it was often the case that only some, but not all, facets underlying a specific trait domain were significantly associated with specific externalizing behaviors. Furthermore, linkages between personality and externalizing behavior were shown to be complex. Depending on the personality trait domain or facet and the specific behavior under investigation, the directionality of effects may differ.
To capture the full complexity of the linkages between personality and externalizing behavior, a facet approach to personality is recommended. This information is potentially important for clinicians, as it indicates which specific aspects of a broad trait domain affect, and are affected by, specific externalizing behaviors.
人格与外化行为（即犯罪、使用软性毒品和酗酒）之间关联效应的方向性尚不清楚。此外，以往研究在考察这些关联时仅检验了人格特质领域，而这些宽泛领域背后的人格层面能提供更多特异性。为解决这些局限性，本研究采用人格层面的方法来考察外化行为与人格之间效应的方向性。
对485名比利时白种裔青少年晚期（87.4%为女性；年龄中位数 = 18.63岁，标准差 = 0.61）的纵向数据的四个年度测量波次采用交叉滞后面板模型。参与者在所有四个测量场合填写了作为人格测量工具的NEO-FFI、作为犯罪测量工具的偏差行为量表，以及关于使用软性毒品和酗酒的单项条目。
证明了人格层面相对于宽泛特质领域的增量价值，因为通常情况是，特定特质领域背后只有部分而非全部层面与特定外化行为显著相关。此外，人格与外化行为之间的联系显示出是复杂的。根据人格特质领域或层面以及所调查的特定行为，效应的方向性可能会有所不同。
为了全面把握人格与外化行为之间联系的复杂性，建议采用人格层面的方法。这些信息对临床医生可能很重要，因为它表明了宽泛特质领域的哪些特定方面会影响特定外化行为以及受到特定外化行为的影响。
