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Updated: May 12, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Perceived social support predicts increased conscientiousness during older adulthood.
Patrick L Hill1, Brennan R Payne2, Joshua J Jackson3
1Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Patrick_Hill@Carleton.ca.
Summary
Perceived social support boosts conscientiousness in older adults. This personality trait change, linked to better health, may explain how support enhances resilience in later life.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Social Science
Background:
- Personality traits, such as conscientiousness, can change throughout adulthood.
- Older adults often experience changes in social support networks.
- Conscientiousness is associated with positive life outcomes, including health and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if perceived social support predicts personality change in older adults.
- To examine the specific impact of social support on the trait of conscientiousness and its facets.
- To explore the potential mediating role of conscientiousness in the relationship between social support and resilience.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study design was employed with 143 older adults (aged 60-91).
- Participants completed measures of conscientiousness and perceived social support at two time points, 7 months apart.
- Statistical analyses examined the predictive relationship between social support and changes in conscientiousness.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was found between social support and conscientiousness in older adults.
- Higher perceived social support at baseline predicted increases in conscientiousness over the 7-month period.
- The effect of social support on conscientiousness was consistent across the facets of order, self-control, and industriousness.
Conclusions:
- Perceived social support is a significant factor promoting adaptive personality change, specifically conscientiousness, in older adulthood.
- Conscientiousness may serve as a mechanism through which social support contributes to enhanced resilience and positive outcomes in later life.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of conscientiousness change in mediating the benefits of social support for older adults.
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