What Does The Research On Neuroticism Say? Understanding Personality

Several personality theories have emerged since the beginning of clinical psychology. Studies often cite and utilize the Big Five Personality Test and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). One of the primary personality profiles of the Big Five test is neuroticism. 

While taking personality tests can be insightful, know that your results may differ depending on when you take the test. Also, it is possible to change certain aspects of our personalities. Understanding neuroticism may offer more significant insight into your personality.

What is neuroticism? 

Neuroticism is a personality type outlined in the Big Five Personality Test. Those with neuroticism as a trait may experience the following: 

• Constant worry or distress
• Difficulty focusing 
• Mood swings, emotional instability, or intense emotions
• Social withdrawal
• Chronic pain
• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Negative affectivity 
• Eating disorders 
• Depressive disorders

Neuroticism is associated with many symptoms that might be a symptom of a mental illness, so if you fit this personality type, it may be beneficial to reach out to a mental health professional. 

What is personality? 

Personality is often described as temperament, emotional capacity, and behavioral patterns developed from birth or childhood. It may also include one's values, morals, and self-esteem. 

Personality encompasses a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.

The big five personality theory

The Big Five Personality theory was first developed in the 1930s by Gordon Allport and Henry Odbert. In the early stages, these researchers gathered 18,000 personality-describing words to create 4,500-word banks. It was inspired by the trait theory, a newly emerging psychological theory positing that we could examine personality in parts instead of as a whole. 

In 1946, another psychologist named Raymond Cattell used this list to develop 181 personality traits. He performed a study to generate the most used words to describe personality that people reported in the study. Many disregarded Cattell’s findings until the 1950s, when two researchers created another study with eight large samples to narrow Cattell's results to five personality traits. 

Their study moved to the National Institutes of Health, when Paul Costa, Robert McCrae, Lewis Goldberg, and Warren Norman concluded that the five most common personality traits in humans were as follows: 

• Surgency 
• Agreeableness
• Conscientiousness 
• Emotional stability
• Culture 

It wasn't until the 1980s that the current five-factor model was created. The modern categories include:

• Openness to experience
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion and introversion
• Agreeableness
• Neuroticism 

The test rates each person low or high in each category. After you take the test, you can examine all categories and learn which you have the highest scores in. For example, you might be high in extroversion and openness to experiences but low in agreeableness. This result could indicate you are a social person who loves to travel and explore the world but doesn't like to follow authority or make exceptions for others. 

What does research say about neuroticism? 

According to studies, neuroticism is a real and impactful personality type. One study found that those with this trait were prone to anger, anxiety, self-consciousness, irritability, emotional instability, and depression. In addition, researchers believe neuroticism has public health implications. The same study reported that neuroticism could be associated with the following: 

• Cardiac challenges
• A malfunctioning immune system
• Asthma
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Increased risk of mortality
• Diminished quality of life
• Ill-will
• Worry
• Occupational failure
• Marital dissatisfaction 
• Substance use disorders
• Individual differences in socialization from peers

Another study looked at the public health of neuroticism and found that those with this trait often responded to threats, frustration, and loss with intense, negative emotions. For example, individuals would showcase intense emotional distress and upset. 

Researchers have also examined the different types of neuroticism. A study by Alexander Weiss found that there was more than one type of neuroticism. People who received high levels of neuroticism with anxiety and tension were likelier to experience adverse health impacts than those who scored highly on worry and vulnerability. 

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What does it mean if you have a "neurotic" personality type?

If you have received the neurotic personality type result on the Big Five Personality Test or another personality typing indicator, you might experience the above symptoms or impacts. However, know that neuroticism doesn't necessarily define you. You can choose the ways you behave and respond to your emotions. 

In addition, a neuroticism result may indicate a mental health condition. If you haven't previously sought support, you might benefit from talking to a licensed therapist about whether this result could indicate an underlying concern. 

Is neuroticism another word for mental illness? 

With several maladaptive traits, it can seem that neuroticism is an unhealthy personality profile; however, some psychologists believe neuroticism as a personality trait doesn't exist and is a label to describe mental illness, as many of its associated traits are symptoms of mental health disorders. 

Neuroticism is only a personality trait if it doesn't negatively impact your daily functioning. If you are experiencing impaired functioning, consider contacting a licensed professional for support. You may be living with an underlying concern. 

Counseling options

As neuroticism is directly linked to mental health conditions, reaching out for support from a licensed professional can be beneficial. If you face barriers to care like financial insecurity, availability needs, or distance, you can also try online counseling through a platform like BetterHelp.

Neuroticism is often associated with social withdrawal and difficulty communicating. If you experience these symptoms, you might appreciate online therapy's flexibility. On some platforms, you can choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions with your therapist and receive quality support and coping skills you can try from home. 

Studies also back up online therapy. One review of 17 studies found that online therapy could be more effective than in-person therapy in treating depression, a common condition alongside neuroticism.