Neuroticism vulnerability factors of anxiety symptoms in adolescents and early adults: an analysis using the bi-factor model and multi-wave longitudinal model

Abstract

Background Neuroticism and stress are important vulnerability factors in the development and outcome of anxiety symptoms. However, as neuroticism is a heterogeneity trait, it is still unclear how different neuroticism factors contribute to anxiety symptoms independently or in conjunction with stress. Thus, different factors of neuroticism were extracted in the present longitudinal study using the bi-factor model. The prediction effect of these different factors on anxiety symptoms and their combined effects with stress in both adolescent and adult samples were examined. Method Participants (592 adolescents and 638 young adults) in Hunan China were included. In the initial assessment in our longitudinal study, participants were asked to complete measurements that assessed neuroticism, stress, and anxiety symptoms. Next, a monthly assessment of stress and anxiety symptoms was completed for the subsequent 6 months. The bi-factor model was used to extract different factors of neuroticism. The hierarchical linear model was used to analyze longitudinal multi-wave data. Result Several model fit indices were used to evaluate the bi-factor model fit for neuroticism (adolescent: Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.957, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.973, RMSEA = 0.040, Chi-Square = 80.471; early adults: TLI = 0.957, CFI = 0.973, RMSEA = 0.042, Chi-Square = 88.465). The results of hierarchical linear modeling analyses indicated that the general factor of neuroticism possessed a predictive effect on anxiety symptoms (adolescents: F = 36.77, p < 0.0001, early adults: F = 30.44, p < 0.0001); The negative effect factor only had the prediction effect on anxiety symptoms in early adults (adolescents: F = 0.65, p > 0.05; early adults: F = 4.84, p < 0.05); No prediction of self-reproach factor was found on anxiety symptoms (adolescents: F = 3.79, p > 0.05; early adults: F = 0.02, p > 0.05); the interactive effects of the general factor and stress on anxiety symptoms were only found in early adulthood (adolescents: F = 0.13, p > 0.05; early adults: F = 11.55, p < 0.01). Conclusion Our results suggested that the bi-factor model achieved a satisfactory fit for neuroticism measurement and supported that the anxiety symptoms were induced by the main effects of the general factor in both age samples and the negative factor only in adults. The general factor of neuroticism, but not the negative factor could make an additive effect for anxiety symptoms in face of stress, which meant that the homogeneity of neuroticism played a more significant role in further anxiety symptoms than heterogeneity when coping with stress.

When fate hands you lemons: A moderated moderation model of bullying victimization and psychological distress among Chinese adolescents during floods and the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Previous studies have found that bullied adolescents in the US were twice as likely to have severe psychological distress compared to their non-victim peers (Zhang et al, 2016). Numerous studies have explored the relationship between bullying and psychological distress (Gong et al, 2020;He et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2022). Many antecedent variables have been identified as reducing or increasing the risk of psychological distress, such as personality type and social cognition (Gong et al, 2020;He et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2022).…”

“…Numerous studies have explored the relationship between bullying and psychological distress (Gong et al, 2020;He et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2022). Many antecedent variables have been identified as reducing or increasing the risk of psychological distress, such as personality type and social cognition (Gong et al, 2020;He et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2022).…”

“…There are still several gaps that need to be filled. First, most existing studies focus on the direct effects of personality on psychological distress (Gong et al, 2020;He et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2022). Very few have explored the potential underlying processes of personality traits on the links between bullying and psychological distress.…”

“…Adolescents bullied at school may have higher baseline emotional or psychological problems and may be more susceptible to psychological distress (Glassner and Cho, 2018;Hysing et al, 2021;Norrington, 2021). Neuroticism (emotional instability) refers to "the tendency to experience negative emotional instability" (Liu et al, 2018) and is closely related to adolescents' psychological distress (Liu et al, 2018;He et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2022). Thus, the first research question was: Does neuroticism moderate the direct effects of bullying in school on psychological distress among adolescents?…”

Residential background as a vulnerability factor for adolescent anxiety in China: A multiwave longitudinal study.

“…Additional cognitive vulnerabilities identified in past research include feelings of hopelessness (Xiao et al, 2016) and dysfunctional attitudes, which involve persistent negative views of oneself, the world, and the future (Auerbach et al, 2012). In addition, a large body of research in recent years has examined the association between temperament and personality vulnerability and anxious symptoms in adolescents, including neuroticism (He et al, 2021), self-esteem (Mlawer et al, 2021), behavioral inhibition, and anxiety sensitivity (Merikangas, 2005).…”