Personality change in older age: In traits and items

Abstract: Some evidence suggests that changes in personality characteristics subsumed under the Five-Factor Model (FFM) are not always aligned according to the five broad traits: items and facets of the same traits display different and sometimes even opposing developmental trajectories. If so, personality changes should be studied at the level of these more specific characteristics in addition to or even instead of the broad FFM traits. Using the three-wave data from Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (N=690), this talk will investigate whether the items of the same FFM traits (measured by 50-item IPIP) display consistent developmental trajectories and external correlates (changes in cognitive ability, physical fitness and independent functioning) from age 70 to age 76 years. Consistency of the change trajectories among items of the same trait will be tested using the Measurement Invariance framework. Developmental patterns and external correlates will be investigated using (bivariate) latent growth models.