Personality Change Across Four Years in World Trade Center Responders

Abstract

The present study investigated personality change over the course of a four-year longitudinal study in N = 452 older adults who responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center (M_age = 55 years, SD = 0.41). This sample provides the rare opportunity to compare normative findings of personality change with change in a unique group with a common trauma. Participants completed the Faceted Inventory of the Five-Factor Model and the Big Five Inventory-2 across four years. Latent growth modeling showed significant mean-level decreases in Openness and Extraversion. At the facet-level, significant decreases were found for Aesthetic Sensitivity, Creative Imagination, Intellectual Curiosity, Anxiety, Anger Proneness, Positive Temperament, Venturesomeness, Ascendence, Empathy, and Achievement Striving. Further, responders showed variability in change—in particular, for Neuroticism and its facets. Regressions from exposure level and age on personality change were also examined. Results highlight the importance of facet-level analysis, as significant change was found only for certain facets within domains—sometimes when the domains showed no change. Differences between responders and normative comparisons were examined. Responders share unique trauma and personality findings may allow clinically useful information on the mental-health problems that responders experience.

Plain language summary

This study examined how personality traits have changed in older adults who responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in 2001. By studying this group, normal personality change could be comapred to personality change in people who have experienced the same trauamatic event. The average age of the participants was 55. Participants completed personality questionnaires over four years. The results showed that there were decreases in two broad personality traits: openness (i.e., interest in new expereinces) and extraversion (i.e., outgoingness). Further analysis showed specific changes within these two traits. For example, people showed decreases in traits represented by an appreciation for art, creativity, curiosity, anger, anxiety, positive emotions, adventurousness, leadership, empathy, and striving for achievement. However, there were differences among individuals, especially in traits related to neuroticism (i.e., emotional instability). These results are important because they show that change in personality can occur in specific aspects of personality, even if broader traits do not change. The study also examined how age, sex, and the amount of exposure to 9/11 affected these personality changes. Understanding these changes can help provide better mental health support for people who have experienced similar traumas.