Individuals with persistent anxiety or depression may mature emotionally at a slower rate than the general population, but they do show significant progress toward stability by middle age, according to a longitudinal study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers tracking 1,943 individuals over nearly three decades found that while those with common mental disorders (CMDs) remain more neurotic than their peers, their capacity for emotional regulation improves significantly between their twenties and their early forties.
How Does Personality Change Over Time?
Personality traits are not static, but follow predictable developmental patterns as people move from early to middle adulthood. Data from the 1992 Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS) show that, on average, most people become more agreeable and conscientious while experiencing declines in extraversion and neuroticism. According to the study, openness remains the most stable trait throughout the lifespan. While the general population follows these trends consistently, the study indicates that those struggling with mental health challenges often experience this “maturation” on a delayed or altered timeline.
The study used the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) to measure personality shifts. Researchers found that extraversion saw the most significant decline over the 29-year period, while neuroticism showed a more modest, yet measurable, decrease.
Do Mental Health Disorders Prevent Emotional Maturation?
Persistent mental health disorders do not prevent emotional maturation, but they do create a higher baseline for emotional instability. The Scientific Reports study found that participants with persistent CMDs showed a significant decrease in neuroticism (SMD, -0.3) as they aged. Despite this improvement, their neuroticism levels remained higher in middle age compared to participants who had never experienced such disorders. The findings suggest that while these individuals do gain emotional stability, their developmental trajectory is distinct from the general population.
The Impact of Substance Use
Substance use patterns appear to have a minor impact on personality development compared to mental health status. Researchers observed that while those with adolescent-limited substance use showed a clearer decline in openness, changes in agreeableness and conscientiousness remained largely consistent across all groups. According to the study authors, the overlap in confidence intervals across substance-use subgroups suggests that these factors play a secondary role in shaping personality compared to the presence of chronic anxiety or depression.
Why Targeted Clinical Support Matters
Clinicians may need to adjust their treatment strategies to account for an individual’s specific emotional timeline. Because personality maturation may occur later for those with persistent mental health difficulties, “one-size-fits-all” mental health care may be insufficient. By recognizing that elevated neuroticism is a persistent, though shifting, trait, practitioners can offer more personalized support that helps patients manage their emotional vulnerability throughout their adult lives.
If you are working with a clinician, discussing your long-term emotional patterns—rather than just current symptoms—can help them tailor a therapeutic approach that accounts for your unique developmental history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can personality traits really change after age 25?
Yes. The study confirms that personality traits continue to evolve throughout early and middle adulthood. Most people see increases in conscientiousness and agreeableness well into their forties.
Does having anxiety mean I will always be less emotionally stable?
Not necessarily. While the study found that individuals with persistent mental disorders often have higher baseline neuroticism, they also show measurable improvements in emotional stability over time.
How were these personality traits measured?
Researchers used the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) at multiple intervals between 1992 and 2021 to track changes in participants from age 24 to 42.
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