A Systematic Review and Taxonomy of Neuroticism Interventions for the General Public

Abstract

There is evidence that many people worldwide want to be less neurotic, that neuroticism can be changed through intervention, and that these changes can have important consequences for individuals’ lives. However, the potential utility of neuroticism interventions hinges on a thorough theoretical understanding of effective change mechanisms. To guide the development of theories of targeted neuroticism change and aid in effectively implementing large-scale intervention efforts, we systematically reviewed literature on interventions for neuroticism and related constructs in nonclinical samples (final k = 99 articles). In doing so, we provide an overview of this heterogeneous research, identify limitations, and create a taxonomy of intervention strategies for a range of neuroticism-related constructs that can be mapped onto existing process theories of personality change. This taxonomy integrates previous research and offers a common language to guide the future development and systematic testing of specific, testable hypotheses about the mechanisms of intentional neuroticism change.