Department of Psychology, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea.
Br J Psychol. 2024 Nov;115(4):809-824. doi: 10.1111/bjop.12726. Epub 2024 Aug 9.
This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal relationship between the Big Five personality traits and sense of purpose over a 13-year period using a nationally representative sample of American adults (N = 11,010). The random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed unidirectional effects: increases in sense of purpose predicted subsequent increases in openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion, as well as decreases in neuroticism. Conversely, changes in personality traits did not predict future changes in sense of purpose. One potential mechanism underlying this effect might involve the link between sense of purpose and optimal self-regulatory processes and outcomes, such as successful planning, goal-directed behaviour, and self-control, which promote gradual positive changes in personality traits. Another plausible mechanism may be the association between purpose and improved subjective well-being and reduced psychological distress, which have been found to predict positive changes in personality traits. These findings challenge previous research that has interpreted cross-sectional associations as evidence that personality traits are predictive of purpose, rather than the other way around. The findings that intentionally cultivating a strong sense of purpose may facilitate positive personality change in adulthood.
这项纵向研究使用美国成年人的全国代表性样本（N=11010），在 13 年的时间里考察了五大人格特质与目标感之间的相互关系。随机截距交叉滞后面板模型显示出单向效应：目标感的增加预示着随后开放性、宜人性、尽责性和外向性的增加，以及神经质的减少。相反，人格特质的变化并不能预测未来目标感的变化。这种效应的一个潜在机制可能涉及目标感与最佳自我调节过程和结果之间的联系，例如成功的计划、目标导向的行为和自我控制，这些都促进了人格特质的逐渐积极变化。另一个可能的机制可能是目标与改善的主观幸福感和减少的心理困扰之间的关联，已经发现这些关联可以预测人格特质的积极变化。这些发现挑战了之前的研究，即认为横截面关联是人格特质可以预测目标的证据，而不是相反。这些发现表明，有意培养强烈的目标感可能有助于成年人的积极人格变化。
