Is There A Neuroticism Test? How Experts Measure Neuroticism
If you are prone to anxiety, self-consciousness, depression, or emotional reactivity, it may sometimes be difficult to navigate life’s challenges and maintain a sense of stability and balance. These characteristics are commonly associated with a personality trait known as neuroticism, which is marked by heightened sensitivity to internal or external stimuli. Over the years, several different assessments have been developed to help professionals evaluate the level of neuroticism an individual experiences. These tests can be valuable resources for those who wish to better understand their personality and the extent to which certain mental health challenges may affect them. In this article, we will explore neuroticism, its features, and personality inventories that test for this common trait, in addition to discussing methods of managing neurotic patterns that may impact your life.
Understanding the key personality traits of neuroticism
Neuroticism can make individuals more prone to mood swings and distress.
Neuroticism is one of the personality traits recognized in the five-factor model of personality, a framework commonly used by psychologists to understand different personality types. At the opposite end of the scale is emotional stability, which is characterized by calmness, resilience, and effective stress management. Everyone is thought to exhibit some level of neuroticism, but the extent to which different individuals display neurotic characteristics can vary widely.
Those who exhibit high levels of neuroticism may be more prone to such as stress, maladaptive coping habits, mood spillover, and exaggerated emotional responses. Neuroticism has also been linked to common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder.
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Methods of measuring neuroticism
Neuroticism can be measured via self-report inventories, clinical interviews, and observational studies. Self-report inventories offer a way for individuals to evaluate their neurotic tendencies, while mental health providers may use clinical interviews or observational studies to assess neuroticism in patients. Often developed by psychologists and other mental health professionals, these assessments are also used in clinical, research, organizational, and educational settings for evaluation purposes.
Self-report inventories
Self-report inventories typically take the form of a questionnaire. You may be presented with a number of questions and asked to respond with a yes/no answer, or with a series of statements and asked to rate your agreement with them on a Likert scale. At the end of the test, you are typically given a score that corresponds to a specific level of neuroticism.
While self-report inventories are widely used for personality inventories for their simplicity and reliability, it may be worth noting that your score could fluctuate over time in response to life events, personal growth, or changes in your emotional state.
The Big Five factor model and personality test
Personality psychologist Lewis Goldberg’s five-factor model consists of five major components of personality and offers a helpful framework for understanding oneself and others. There are many personality assessments based on this framework. The include:
- Openness
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Neuroticism
A test based on the Big Five typically involves rating your agreement with a number of statements related to the above personality traits (e.g., “I get stressed out easily”, “I worry about things”). Usually, you will receive a score based on each of these five traits, with a higher score indicating a more pronounced presence of that trait.
Revised NEO Personality Inventory
The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) is a common test used to assess individuals based on the Big Five personality traits. Developed by psychologists Paul T. Costa Jr. and Robert R. McCrae, it involves assessing 240 test items on a 4-point Likert scale, with 1 indicating “strongly disagree” and 4 indicating “strongly agree”. This assessment may be self-administered, though it is typically best for professionals to evaluate and interpret the results.
Clinical interviews
A clinical interview is typically a face-to-face or virtual interview with a mental health professional. Often, clinical interviews are used to assess patients prior to beginning mental health treatment. Through a clinical interview, the therapist, counselor, social worker, or other professional may ask a series of questions to assess various areas of the individual’s life, including:
- Personality
- Emotional and psychological state
- Personal history
- Family history
- Support systems
If you pursue mental health care, these questions can provide you and the professional you’re working with insights into the thought and behavior patterns that make up your personality, including any neurotic tendencies. If you are concerned about trouble managing your emotions or frequent feelings of distress, a therapist can help you identify whether these challenges might be due to neuroticism, situational factors, or other concerns. They may then work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
Practical applications of neuroticism testing
Many individuals find personality assessments helpful for gaining a deeper understanding of themselves. However, there are other applications for evaluations that measure neuroticism and other personality traits. Employers may use personality inventories to better understand employees and job applicants.
Personality testing is also frequently used by school administrators and teachers to better understand students. This can be helpful for providing appropriate academic guidance and instruction. Additionally, personality assessments can help career counselors learn more about an individual’s aptitudes and desires so that they can better provide suggestions for potential career paths.
How to manage neuroticism
The characteristics associated with neuroticism—a tendency toward mood swings, irritability, low self-esteem, etc.—may make it difficult to adapt to challenging situations and manage your emotions. Though neuroticism is considered an inherent personality trait, it is possible to become less reactive and more resilient through coping strategies, increased mindfulness, and mental health treatment.
There are several steps you can take that may help you navigate the challenges neuroticism often presents. Because mindfulness is thought to be inversely correlated with neuroticism, techniques centered around helping you focus on the present may help limit emotional reactivity in your life. To do this, consider regularly practicing mindfulness exercises. One such exercise is a simple walking meditation, in which you focus on the mechanics and feelings associated with a slow, methodical walk.
Attending support groups, exercising, and eating a balanced diet can also help you address mental health challenges associated with neuroticism, while strategies such as deep breathing exercises can be helpful in the moments when you feel yourself becoming upset or anxious. As we’ll discuss below, a mental health professional can help you implement self-help strategies that address concerns associated with your specific personality traits.
Addressing neuroticism with a professional
Therapy can be a helpful source of support and guidance for individuals who experience high levels of neuroticism. Research suggests that addressing neuroticism in treatment can be helpful for managing underlying mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy, for example, may help individuals adopt healthier thought patterns and coping strategies, thus reducing neurotic tendencies.
Studies show that online therapy can be helpful for those experiencing personality traits that are associated with a high incidence of mental health concerns. In a review that included over 30 studies examining the efficacy of online cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, researchers found that treatment led to lower levels of neuroticism. Additionally, the review mentions the ability of online therapy to circumvent the “numerous barriers to treatment” that exist in mental health care, including high cost, stigma, and time constraints.
If you’d like to learn more about the extent to which neuroticism affects your life, online therapy can help. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can work with a licensed therapist to learn more about your personality remotely, through video call, voice call, or in-app messaging. You can also reach out to your therapist outside of sessions, which can be helpful if you have a question about neuroticism or want to clarify a point made during therapy.
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Takeaway
What questions to assess for neuroticism?
There are a few different psychology questionnaires and surveys that may help a clinician ascertain if a person displays neurotic tendencies. One is the Big Five personality test. This test consists of questions designed to measure a person’s level of each of the big five personality traits—one of which is neuroticism.
Test questions to complete or provide answers to that may relate to neuroticism, in particular, could include those about how often you worry about things, how easily you get angry, how often you feel melancholy, and whether you prefer variety or routine. If you’re looking for a way to most accurately measure and/or manage your potential levels of neuroticism, consulting with a mental health care professional is typically recommended.
How does neuroticism affect performance?
In general, high neuroticism levels have the potential to negatively affect an individual’s performance and productivity in the workplace. This is because they may be more prone to being highly affected by stress and may be less able to control emotional impulses while on the job and elsewhere. They may also be at greater risk for experiencing burnout than those who are lower in neuroticism and could also be less likely to feel comfortable asking for help in some cases.
How do you evaluate neuroticism?
There are various ways to evaluate a person’s levels of neuroticism. Some tests and questionnaires that could be used by clinicians include the Big Five personality test and the Revised NEO Personality Model (NEO-PI-R). Various self-report inventories and free personality tests are also an option, as are different forms of one-on-one clinical interviews.
What happens if you score high on neuroticism?
Someone who scores high on questionnaires or other methods for the general trait of neuroticism may have trouble controlling their emotional reactions to things. They may be prone to mood swings and distress, might “feel blue” more often, and may also be at increased risk of developing a mental health condition like depression or anxiety.
How does neuroticism affect decision-making?
Someone with neurotic tendencies may be more prone to emotional impulsivity in decision-making, or to making choices based on high emotions they feel in the moment—which they could later regret. Research suggests that individuals who score high in neuroticism may also exhibit less self-control in the decision-making process.
How does neuroticism affect motivation?
People who have high levels of neuroticism are likely to be more anxious about meeting expectations and fulfilling responsibilities. That means that, as long as this trait is managed enough so that it doesn’t overwhelm and stall productivity, a neurotic person can be highly motivated to achieve.
Do neurotic people have control over their feelings?
One of the key personality traits of more neurotic people is being prone to mood swings and emotional impulses. In other words, they may have less control over their feelings than those who score lower in neuroticism. However, note that people can generally learn to better manage neurotic tendencies—such as by practicing healthy coping mechanisms for difficult feelings and adjusting patterns of negative thoughts—so that they are less disruptive to their lives.
How neuroticism can influence job satisfaction?
As some research describes, high levels of neuroticism could correlate with decreased job satisfaction. This may be because neurotic traits can make it difficult to manage emotions, such as work-related stress. If a person is constantly under high stress and/or at risk for burnout, they are generally less likely to be satisfied with their job. However, this doesn’t mean that hiring managers shouldn’t accept people who have neurotic traits; when well-managed, these characteristics may actually help increase an individual’s productivity and lead to new ideas, high motivation, and overall success.
How do you manage neuroticism?
Learning to manage neuroticism is generally about learning to manage strong emotions. Practicing mindfulness and engaging in deep breathing exercises are two techniques that could help in this regard. Individuals having difficulty coping with strong emotions may also benefit from meeting with a therapist for additional support.
Can highly neurotic people be successful?
Yes. Learning to manage neuroticism can result in a satisfying, successful life and/or career—and the same can be said for most traits. Those with neurotic characteristics may be more prone to experiencing high stress and being deeply affected by emotions, but it is possible to manage these tendencies in order to promote a more stable, balanced life.
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