Page 43 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Personality and adolescent mental health

Moreover, cultural differences play a critical role in studies are particularly important for understanding
shaping the development and manifestation of personality adolescence, a period marked by significant psychological,
traits during adolescence. Research indicates that emotional, and social transformations (Arslan et al., 2023;
adolescents in collectivist cultures, which emphasize family Luan et al., 2017; Oltmanns et al., 2020). By tracking
interdependence, social harmony, and community values, individuals across multiple time points, longitudinal
often experience distinct social pressures compared to those research can identify patterns of stability and change
in individualistic societies (Akkuş et al., 2017; Liu et al., in personality traits, as well as their predictive power
2017). In these settings, traits such as agreeableness and for mental health and behavioral outcomes later in life
conscientiousness may be more strongly reinforced, while (Bleidorn et al., 2022; Bühler et al., 2024; Oltmanns et al.,
societal expectations for conformity and cooperation may 2020).
moderate expressions of impulsivity or sensation-seeking.
Conversely, in individualistic cultures that prioritize For example, longitudinal studies have shown that
personal autonomy and self-expression, there may be personality traits such as conscientiousness and emotional
stability are not only stable across adolescence but also
greater variability in the emergence and stabilization of strong predictors of life outcomes, including academic
these traits. Recognizing these cultural nuances is essential achievement, career success, and relationship quality (De
for understanding how personality traits crystallize during
adolescence. Vries et al., 2021; Israel et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2023).
Conversely, traits such as neuroticism and impulsivity have
2.2. Dimensional models of personality and been linked to negative outcomes such as substance abuse,
psychopathology depression, and delinquency (Asaoka et al., 2020; Tharshini
et al., 2021). These studies underscore the importance of
Personality and psychopathology are increasingly viewed
as existing on a continuum, with extreme expressions of early identification and intervention in adolescents who
certain traits linked to the development of personality exhibit maladaptive personality traits, as these traits tend
disorders. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of to persist and lead to problematic behaviors and mental
Mental Disorders Fifth Edition’s Alternative Model for health issues in adulthood.
Personality Disorders (AMPD) and the Triarchic Model In summary, the theoretical background of adolescent
of Psychopathy are two modern frameworks used to personality development and psychopathology highlights
understand the relationship between personality traits and the interplay between stable personality traits and
psychopathological outcomes (Drislane et al., 2019; Miller environmental influences, as well as the importance
et al., 2018; Sica et al., 2024). of dimensional models in understanding personality
The AMPD emphasizes the dimensional nature of disorders. Longitudinal studies offer critical insights into
personality traits, suggesting that personality disorders how personality traits evolve and their implications for
arise from maladaptive variations of normal personality mental health and behavioral outcomes in later life.
traits, such as high neuroticism or low conscientiousness 3. Personality traits and mental health
(Monaghan & Bizumic, 2023; Waugh et al., 2017;
Widiger et al., 2020). Meanwhile, the Triarchic Model of outcomes in adolescence
Psychopathy conceptualizes psychopathy as comprising 3.1. Internalizing versus externalizing symptoms
three core components: boldness, meanness, and Personality traits play a crucial role in shaping mental
disinhibition. Adolescents who display high levels of
meanness (e.g., lack of empathy and callousness) and health outcomes in adolescence, particularly through their
disinhibition (e.g., impulsivity and irresponsibility) are at a influence on internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
higher risk of developing antisocial behaviors and conduct Internalizing symptoms refer to mental health problems
disorders (Byrd et al., 2014; Mann et al., 2018). CU traits, that manifest inwardly, such as anxiety, depression, and
which are part of the broader psychopathy construct, have emotional distress, whereas externalizing symptoms
been shown to be stable across adolescence and predictive are outwardly directed behaviors, including aggression,
of future antisocial behavior, making them a critical focus delinquency, and substance use (Babicka-Wirkus et al.,
for both researchers and clinicians (Cardoso et al., 2023; 2023; Sekaran et al., 2024). Research has consistently
Goulter et al., 2024; Goulter et al., 2023; Sakki et al., 2023). shown that certain personality traits are closely associated
with these symptoms, impacting adolescents’ overall
2.3. The importance of longitudinal studies mental well-being.
Longitudinal studies provide valuable insights into how For instance, neuroticism – a trait characterized by
personality traits develop and change over time. These emotional instability, sensitivity to stress, and a tendency

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 35 https://doi.org/10.36922/GHES025080013