Page 44 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Personality and adolescent mental health

to experience negative emotions – has been found to from bullying and aggression to more serious criminal
correlate with internalizing symptoms such as anxiety and offenses. Moreover, the combination of CU traits with
depression strongly (Lahey, 2009; Liu et al., 2020; Yildirim other personality dimensions, such as impulsivity or low
et al., 2023). Adolescents with high levels of neuroticism conscientiousness, increases the likelihood of persistent
are more likely to struggle with emotional regulation, antisocial behavior (De Wit-De Visser et al., 2023; Herpers
making them vulnerable to mood disorders and chronic et al., 2012; Mann et al., 2015; Morales-Vives et al., 2019).
stress. On the other hand, conscientiousness, which is
associated with self-discipline, goal setting, and reliability, 3.3. The role of emotional stability and extraversion
is inversely related to internalizing symptoms. Adolescents While traits such as neuroticism and CU traits are linked
who exhibit higher levels of conscientiousness tend to have to negative mental health outcomes, other personality
better mental health outcomes, as they are more likely to traits such as emotional stability and extraversion can
employ effective coping mechanisms and manage stress serve as protective factors. Emotional stability (the
(Bartley & Roesch, 2011; Chen et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2023). opposite of neuroticism) is associated with resilience to
stress and lower levels of anxiety and depression (Hao
In contrast, externalizing symptoms, such as antisocial et al., 2019). Emotionally stable adolescents are more likely
behavior, substance use, and delinquency, are often linked to handle emotional challenges effectively, maintain a
to traits such as impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and low positive outlook, and navigate stressful situations without
agreeableness (Krueger et al., 2007; LaSpada et al., 2020; succumbing to emotional distress (Çıvgın et al., 2023;
Mann et al., 2017; Mann et al., 2018; Moore et al., 2024; Dong et al., 2022; Ho et al., 2013; Osimo et al., 2021;
Quinn & Harden, 2013). Adolescents who score high on Vanhalst et al., 2012).
these traits are more likely to engage in risky behaviors,
including alcohol and drug use, and exhibit disruptive Extraversion, another positive trait, is linked to social
behavior at school or home. Longitudinal studies suggest engagement, assertiveness, and positive affect. Extraverted
that these traits, when present during adolescence, can adolescents tend to experience higher levels of life
predict long-term behavioral problems, including criminal satisfaction and well-being, as their social nature often
activity and substance dependency in adulthood (Allen leads to the development of strong peer relationships
et al., 2021; Arteaga et al., 2010; Heerde et al., 2019; and a supportive social network (Clark et al., 2023; Nesi
Klimstra et al., 2010; Nawi et al., 2021; Rodríguez-Ruiz et al., 2018; Swickert et al., 2002; Zhou et al., 2024). These
et al., 2021; Watts et al., 2024). social connections can act as a buffer against the negative
effects of stress, anxiety, and loneliness, reducing the
3.2. CU traits risk of internalizing disorders. Furthermore, extraverted
adolescents are more likely to participate in activities that
CU traits, characterized by a lack of empathy, shallow promote mental health, such as sports and social clubs,
affect, and disregard for others, are another significant which provide additional emotional support (Eime et al.,
area of concern during adolescence. CU traits are often 2013; Finnerty et al., 2021; Hoffmann et al., 2022; Khan
seen as precursors to more severe personality disorders, et al., 2022; Schüller & Demetriou, 2018).
such as psychopathy, and are strongly associated with
externalizing behaviors (Cardoso et al., 2023; Demetriou In summary, personality traits are powerful predictors
et al., 2023; Herpers et al., 2012; Pisano et al., 2017; Sakki of both internalizing and externalizing symptoms in
et al., 2023; Saunders et al., 2019; Vasconcelos et al., 2021; adolescence. While neuroticism and CU traits contribute to
Waller et al., 2020). Adolescents exhibiting CU traits are negative mental health outcomes and antisocial behavior,
more likely to engage in chronic antisocial behavior and traits such as emotional stability and extraversion offer
display a general indifference to the feelings and rights of protective benefits, fostering resilience and promoting
others, which can lead to conflicts with peers, authority positive mental health. Understanding these relationships
figures, and the law (Michielsen et al., 2022; Miron et al., is crucial for early identification and intervention, as
2020; Squillaci & Benoit, 2021). targeted support can mitigate the impact of maladaptive
traits and enhance the development of positive traits.
The presence of CU traits in adolescence is also a
strong predictor of later psychopathy. These traits remain 4. Personality traits and behavioral
relatively stable over time, making early identification outcomes
crucial for intervention efforts (Demetriou et al., 2023;
Frogner et al., 2018; Goulter et al., 2023; McMahon et al., 4.1. Substance use and risky behaviors
2010; Waaler et al., 2024; Waller et al., 2020). Adolescents One of the most studied behavioral outcomes in
with CU traits often exhibit a range of antisocial behaviors, adolescence is the relationship between personality traits

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 36 https://doi.org/10.36922/GHES025080013