Personality, Interpersonal Problems, and Anxiety Among Older Adults

Abstract

Introduction: This study examined relationships between personality disorder (PD) features, Big Five personality traits, and interpersonal problems with anxiety. Method: Older adults ( N = 130) completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale, Coolidge Axis Two Inventory, Big Five Inventory-2, and Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Problems. Pearson correlation analyses were used to assess simple relationships between anxiety with PD features (CATI scales), Big Five personality domains (BFI-2 scales), and interpersonal problems (CSIP scales). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the extent to which the PD scales of the CATI, the personality scales of the BFI-2, and the scales of the CSIP explained variance in anxiety. Results: Anxiety was positively correlated with 13 of 14 PD scales, ranging from .23 (Narcissistic) to .61 (Depressive). Regarding Big Five personality traits, anxiety was negatively associated with Agreeableness (−.23), Conscientiousness (−.30), and Extraversion (−.31) but was positively associated with Negative Emotionality (.56). Regarding interpersonal problems, anxiety was positively related to all eight CSIP scales, ranging from Self-sacrificing (.30) to Distant/Cold (.62). Regression analyses indicated that PD features accounted for the most variance in anxiety symptoms (53%), followed by interpersonal problems (46%), and Big Five personality traits (33%). Discussion: Anxiety appears to be meaningfully associated with PD features, several aspects of Big Five personality traits, and interpersonal problems, suggesting that these variables may play important roles in the development and maintenance of anxiety, or vice versa. Our findings especially speak to the growing awareness of the deleterious impact of PD features on clinical syndromes in later life, as evidenced by strong comorbidities with anxiety.

Relationships Between Diverse Forms of Anxiety With Intrapersonal Functioning Among Older Adults

“…Diverse types of anxiety and intrapersonal functioning in the older adult population are understudied, despite the rapidly accelerating growth of the older adult population in the USA and across the globe. Previous research indicates that older adults with clinical anxiety symptoms are likely to experience comorbid PD symptoms (Coolidge et al, 2000; Noel et al, 2021). However, intrapersonal functioning was not specifically addressed in those studies.…”

“…In addition, assessing relationships between intrapersonal functioning and diverse types of anxiety with interpersonal aspects of personality functioning (e.g., traditional PD symptoms) among older adults may be a logical future direction. Indeed, PDs in the older adult population are largely understudied, and further research should be directed toward a more complete understanding regarding anxiety and personality functioning in later life (Coolidge et al, 2000; Noel et al, 2021; Stone et al, 2021; Stone & Segal, 2021).…”

“…2. It is hypothesized that total scores of the three distinct forms of anxiety (i.e., clinical anxiety, anxiety about aging, and death anxiety) will be significantly positively correlated with intrapersonal functioning, based on prior studies that have established strong overlap between some PD symptoms and anxiety symptoms in later life (Coolidge et al, 2000;Noel et al, 2021). It is also hypothesized that total scores of the three forms of anxiety will be significantly positively correlated with the specific domains of intrapersonal functioning.…”

“…The following hypotheses are offered: It is hypothesized that total scores of the three distinct forms of anxiety (i.e., clinical anxiety, anxiety about aging, and death anxiety) will be significantly and moderately positively correlated with each other, building on previous findings focusing on death anxiety and anxiety about aging (Mock, 2021). There will be significant overlap but also meaningful unique variance associated with each construct. It is hypothesized that total scores of the three distinct forms of anxiety (i.e., clinical anxiety, anxiety about aging, and death anxiety) will be significantly positively correlated with intrapersonal functioning, based on prior studies that have established strong overlap between some PD symptoms and anxiety symptoms in later life (Coolidge et al, 2000; Noel et al, 2021). It is also hypothesized that total scores of the three forms of anxiety will be significantly positively correlated with the specific domains of intrapersonal functioning. …”

“…Anxious older adults were also less likely to have significant personality dysfunction compared to anxious younger adults (Coolidge et al, 2000). More recently, Noel et al (2021) found that anxiety symptoms, as assessed by the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS; Segal et al 2010), were strongly and positively related to 13 of the 14 PDs in the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM), including the 10 standard PDs and four PDs that were included in prior editions of the DSM. Noel et al's (2021) research is consistent with and expands upon previous research suggesting a meaningful link between anxiety and PD features in older adults, thus setting the stage to examine how intrapersonal functioning may be related to anxiety.…”