The present study examines different aspects of personality continuity (or change) in middle adulthood and old age both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The sample comprised 445 middle-aged (42-46 years) and 420 older (60-64 years) participants, reassessed after a 4-year interval. Personality was measured using the NEO-FFI personality inventory. After having established strict factorial invariance, factor covariances were found to be equal for both age groups and at both testing occasions, indicating perfect structural continuity of personality. A number of age differences in personality emerged at both measurement occasions. Longitudinally, in both age groups, an average decline in Neuroticism was observed. Longitudinal stability coefficients were around .80 in middle-aged and old participants, implying high, but not perfect, differential continuity. With respect to continuity of divergence, statistically significant cross-sectional age differences were found for the variance of Openness at both measurement occasions. Eventually, concerning specific versus general continuity, a variety of medium effect-sized correlated changes in the Big Five personality domains across the 4-year period was established, implying that personality changes share a certain amount of commonality.

The present study addresses the issue of age differences in five personality domains across the lifespan in a cross-sectional study. In contrast to most previous studies, we followed a methodologically more rigorous approach to warrant that age-related differences in personality structure and mean-level can be meaningfully compared. We used data on 50 items of the Five-Factor Personality Inventory (FFPI) available from a study in a large and representative Dutch sample (N = 2494, age range: 16-91 years) conducted in 1996 for the purpose of establishing norms for the FFPI. After having established strict measurement invariance, we tested for factor covariances to be equal across age groups, and found structural continuity of personality. Additionally, factor variances were shown to be equal across age groups. A number of age differences in the mean-level of the five personality domains emerged. Specifically, older adults were, on average, more agreeable and, especially, more conscientious than middle-aged and younger adults. Findings from our study suggest that both continuity and change may mark personality over the course of life. The present study addresses the issue of age differences in five personality domains across the lifespan in a cross-sectional study. In contrast to most previous studies, we followed a methodologically more rigorous approach to warrant that age-related differences in personality structure and mean-level can be meaningfully compared. We used data on 50 items of the Five-Factor Personality Inventory (FFPI) available from a study in a large and representative Dutch sample (N = 2494, age range: 16-91 years) conducted in 1996 for the purpose of establishing norms for the FFPI. After having established strict measurement invariance, we tested for factor covariances to be equal across age groups, and found structural continuity of personality. Additionally, factor variances were shown to be equal across age groups. A number of age differences in the mean-level of the five personality domains emerged. Specifically, older adults were, on average, more agreeable and, especially, more conscientious than middle-aged and younger adults. Findings from our study suggest that both continuity and change may mark personality over the course of life.

The present study examines long-term correlated change in personality traits in old age across a time period of 12 years. Data from the Interdisciplinary Study on Adult Development were used to investigate different aspects of personality change and stability. The sample consisted of 300 adults ranging from 60 to 64 years of age at Time 1. Personality was measured with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Longitudinal structural stability, differential stability, change in interindividual differences, mean-level change, and correlated change of the 5 personality traits were examined utilizing structural equation modeling. After having established strict measurement invariance, factor variances in Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness were found to be different across testing occasions, implying variant covariation patterns over time. Stability coefficients were around .70, indicating high but not perfect differential stability. The amount of interindividual differences increased with respect to Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness. Both mean-level change and stability in personality were observed. Eventually, except for Neuroticism, a number of medium effect-sized correlations among changes in personality traits emerged, implying that personality changes share a substantial amount of commonality.

Factor structure and measurement invariance of the cognitive failures questionnaire across the adult life span by means of confirmatory factor analysis of ordered-categorical variables. A three-factor model of the CFQ from an exploratory factor analysis was tested for increasing levels of measurement invariance across six age groups. Factor (co-)variances remained stable across the age groups, mean differences were observed for the factor "Forgetfulness", with higher means for older participants, and the factor "Distractibility", where participants older than 60 years of age had lower means. Another prominent account of everyday slips and errors is proposed by Broadbent et al. (1982). A cognitive failure "… may involve perceptual failures, failures of memory, or physical actions which are misdirected. The common element is that there is a departure from the normal smooth flow of function, and events do not proceed in accordance with intention" (p.1). The assumption underlying cognitive failures is that various perceptual, action, and memory failures are influenced by a general and rather enduring factor. This factor might be described as a general proneness or liability to cognitive failures which should be relatively independent of traditional personality and intelligence measures (cf. Klumb, 2001). conscientiousness, and everyday memory). In a sample of 386 undergraduate students he found that the frequency of self-reported cognitive failures correlated positively (rs = .50 to .53) with similar constructs, whereas the associations with opposite constructs were negative (rs = -.13 to -.41). The broad acceptance and usefulness of the CFQ are also reflected by the fact that the CFQ has been translated into several languages, for example, Dutch (Merckelbach et al., 1996), German (Klumb, 1995), Hebrew (Meiran et al., 1994) and Spanish (García Martínez & Sánchez-Cánovas, 1994). In summary, the CFQ is a commonly used questionnaire which has proved to be a useful instrument to identify individuals prone to cognitive failures. Factor Structure of the CFQIn most applied studies the sum score across all CFQ items is used as a measure of being prone to everyday slips and errors, based on the assumption that the CFQ captures a general liability of cognitive failures. In accordance with this assumption, Broadbent et al. (1982) conducted a number of factor analyses in different samples and concluded that a single, general factor of cognitive failures adequately captured the dimensional structure of the CFQ. The authors found that apart from the "obvious general factor" (p. 5), results were rather variable.Subsequently, however, several investigators re-examined the factor structure of the CFQ and their results seem to question the notion of only one single and general factor (Larson, Alderton, Neideffer, & Underhill, 1997;Pollina, Greene, Tunick, & Puckett, 1992;Wagle, Berrios, & Ho, 1999;Wallace, 2004;Wallace, Kass, & Stanny, 2002). Details regarding these models can be 5 Measurement invariance of the CFQ retrieved from ...