Is neuroticism really bad for you? Dynamics in personality and limbic reactivity prior to, during and following real-life combat stress

Abstract

The personality trait of neuroticism is considered a risk factor for stress vulnerability, putatively via its association with elevated limbic reactivity. Nevertheless, majority of evidence to date that relates neuroticism, neural reactivity and stress vulnerability stems from cross-sectional studies conducted in a “stress-free” environment. Here, using a unique prospective longitudinal design, we assessed personality, stress-related symptoms and neural reactivity at three time points over the course of four and a half years; accounting for prior to, during, and long-time following a stressful military service that included active combat. Results revealed that despite exposure to multiple potentiality traumatic events, majority of soldiers exhibited none-to-mild levels of posttraumatic and depressive symptoms during and following their military service. In contrast, a quadratic pattern of change in personality emerged overtime, with neuroticism being the only personality trait to increase during stressful military service and subsequently decrease following discharge. Elevated neuroticism during military service was associated with reduced amygdala and hippocampus activation in response to stress-related content, and this association was also reversed following discharge. A similar pattern was found between neuroticism and hippocampus-anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) functional connectivity in response to stress-related content. Taken together these findings suggest that stressful military service at young adulthood may yield a temporary increase in neuroticism mediated by a temporary decrease in limbic reactivity, with both effects being reversed long-time following discharge. Considering that participants exhibited low levels of stress-related symptoms throughout the study period, these dynamic patterns may depict behavioral and neural mechanisms that facilitate stress resilience.

A genome-wide investigation into the underlying genetic architecture of personality traits and overlap with psychopathology

“…Further, study by Gelernter et al found CRHR1 significantly associated with re-experiencing PTSD symptoms [42] and also maximum habitual alcohol intake [43]. This gene is also involved in hippocampal neurogenesis [40] while reduced hippocampal activation is associated with elevated neuroticism [44]. This makes CRHR1 a good lead candidate to be followed in future studies to understand the molecular processes impacted by genetic variation underlying a range pf psychiatric traits including neuroticism.…”

The role of familial factors and neuroticism in the association between exposure to offensive behaviors at work and long-term sickness absence due to common mental disorders - a prospective twin study

“…The concept of "healthy neuroticism", emphasize the functional benefits of vigilance and worry in threatening situations [70]. Studies have suggested that high levels of neuroticism may actually boost stress resilience [71] and promote recovery after highly stressful periods [72]. Although neuroticism seems related to less problem-solving and to some inappropriate problem-solving strategies, neuroticism has also been related to more support-seeking [73].…”

The influence of family incivility on cyberbullying perpetration: A moderated mediation model

“…In addition, individuals with high levels of neuroticism are more inclined to adopt negative cognitive appraisal, considering family incivility (i.e., the stressor) threatening ( Schneider, 2004 ), eventually leading individuals to adopt negative coping strategies (e.g., cyberbullying perpetration), to alleviate their negative emotions. A recent biological experiment also showed that high neuroticism can increase individuals’ reactivity of limbic system and decrease their tolerance to stressors or aversive stimuli, so that highly neurotic individuals are always disturbed by negative emotions and adopt negative coping strategies ( Magal et al, 2021 ). Our study reflects individual differences among victims suffering from family incivility, and neuroticism plays an important role in this moderated mediation model.…”