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‘Big Five’ personality characteristics are associated with loneliness but not with social network size in older adults, irrespective of depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2019

N. Schutter Open the ORCID record for N. Schutter [Opens in a new window] ,
L. Koorevaar ,
T. J. Holwerda ,
M. L. Stek ,
J. Dekker  and
H. C. Comijs
N. Schutter*
Affiliation:
Arkin Mental Health Care, Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Nieuwe Kerkstraat 156, 1018 VM Amsterdam, the Netherlands
L. Koorevaar
Affiliation:
GGZ Noord Holland Noord/ Amici Zorgt, Oude Hoeverweg 10, 1816 BT Alkmaar, the Netherlands
T. J. Holwerda
Affiliation:
Arkin Mental Health Care, Department of Psychiatry, Roetersstraat 210, 1018 WE Amsterdam, the Netherlands
M. L. Stek
Affiliation:
GGZ InGeest/Department of Psychiatry and the Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, the Netherlands
J. Dekker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Department of Clinical Research, Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
H. C. Comijs
Affiliation:
GGZ InGeest/Department of Psychiatry and the Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, the Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: N. Schutter, Arkin Mental Health Care, Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Nieuwe Kerkstraat 156, 1018 VM Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Phone: +31-646381144. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Objective:

Loneliness and social isolation have negative health consequences and are associated with depression. Personality characteristics are important when studying persons at risk for loneliness and social isolation. The objective of this study was to clarify the association between personality factors, loneliness and social network, taking into account diagnosis of depression, partner status and gender.

Design:

Cross-sectional data of an ongoing prospective cohort study, the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO), were used.

Setting and participants:

474 participants were recruited from mental health care institutions and general practitioners in five different regions in the Netherlands.

Measurements:

NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) personality factors and loneliness and social network were measured as well as possible confounders. Multinominal logistic regression analyses were performed to analyse the associations between NEO-FFI factors and loneliness and social network. Interaction terms were investigated for depression, partner status and gender.

Results:

Higher neuroticism and lower extraversion in women and lower agreeableness in both men and women were associated with loneliness but not with social network size irrespective of the presence of depression. In the non-depressed group only, lower openness was associated with loneliness. Interaction terms with partner status were not significant.

Conclusions:

Personality factors are associated with loneliness especially in women. In men lower agreeableness contributes to higher loneliness. In non-depressed men and women, lower openness is associated with loneliness. Personality factors are not associated with social network size.

Keywords

personality factorslonelinesssocial networkdepression
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 32 , Issue 1: Issue Theme: Cultural Diversity in Psychogeriatrics , January 2020 , pp. 53 - 63
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2019 

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