Are neuroticism and extraversion related to morning cortisol release in healthy older people?

Personality and Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis in Older Men and Women

“…Specifically, conscientiousness and agreeableness tend to increase in older ages, whereas neuroticism and openness tend to decrease, and some dimensions of extraversion tend to increase, whereas others decrease (Roberts et al, 2006). Despite this, to our knowledge, only three studies have analyzed the association between the diurnal cortisol pattern and personality in older people (Gerritsen et al, 2009;Puig-Perez et al, 2016;Ouanes et al, 2017). In a previous study, we analyzed the association between neuroticism and extraversion, measured with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised short form (EPQ-RS), and morning cortisol levels (Puig-Perez et al, 2016).…”

“…Despite this, to our knowledge, only three studies have analyzed the association between the diurnal cortisol pattern and personality in older people (Gerritsen et al, 2009;Puig-Perez et al, 2016;Ouanes et al, 2017). In a previous study, we analyzed the association between neuroticism and extraversion, measured with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised short form (EPQ-RS), and morning cortisol levels (Puig-Perez et al, 2016). We observed that higher neuroticism was related to lower overall morning cortisol concentrations [i.e., area under the curve with respect to the ground (AUCg)] and increased CAR only in women; however, extraversion was not associated with the AUCg or with the CAR (Puig-Perez et al, 2016).…”

“…In a previous study, we analyzed the association between neuroticism and extraversion, measured with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised short form (EPQ-RS), and morning cortisol levels (Puig-Perez et al, 2016). We observed that higher neuroticism was related to lower overall morning cortisol concentrations [i.e., area under the curve with respect to the ground (AUCg)] and increased CAR only in women; however, extraversion was not associated with the AUCg or with the CAR (Puig-Perez et al, 2016). Gerritsen et al (2009) also assessed neuroticism with the abbreviated subscale of the Dutch Personality Questionnaire, and they observed that higher neuroticism was related to higher evening cortisol levels, but not to post-awakening cortisol or diurnal cortisol variability.…”

“…Of these three studies, only Ouanes et al (2017) administered the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) to measure the big five personality traits (i.e., neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness), and they reported that higher neuroticism was related to a lower CAR, whereas lower extraversion and higher openness were associated with increased diurnal mean cortisol levels (AUCg). Moreover, although it has been reported that sex is an important moderator in the relationship between personality and HPA axis functioning (DeSoto and Salinas, 2015), only Puig-Perez et al (2016) analyzed sex differences in the association between neuroticism and extraversion and morning cortisol levels, and they reported that higher neuroticism was related to a greater CAR only in women. Therefore, only a few studies have been carried out, but with methodological differences such as the use of different questionnaires to assess personality traits and different cortisol indexes used to measure HPA axis functioning, and sex differences in these associations have hardly been analyzed.…”

Predicting change trajectories of neuroticism from baseline brain structure using whole brain analyses and latent growth curve models in adolescents

“…The interplay of hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland (together forming the HPA axis) maintains the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, which regulate the system's reaction to stress. A body of research shows that higher levels of neuroticism are associated with lower levels of cortisol 13,[21][22][23] . However, also contradictory results emerge 24 which may, not least, be due to the difficulty to assess cortisol level without confounders.…”