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Individual Differences in the Effects of Life Events on Personality Trait Change
Lara Oeltjen1, Christian Kandler2
1Department of Psychology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
Journal of Personality
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Life events impact personality trait change, but effects vary significantly based on individual perception, age, gender, and event characteristics. This variability explains inconsistent research findings on personality development.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Personality Science
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Previous research on life events and personality change lacks consistency and replicability.
- Individual differences in personality change processes following life events have been understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of life event occurrence and perception on personality trait change.
- Examine how moderators influence the relationship between life events and personality development.
Main Methods:
- Employed a novel Moderated Nonlinear Latent-State-Trait modeling approach.
- Collected data from 623 participants with up to three informants across three assessment waves (2-year intervals).
- Assessed self- and informant-reported personality trait change and considered various moderators.
Main Results:
- Life events influenced mean-level personality change and trait variability.
- These effects were contingent upon age, gender, event perception, trait type, time-lag, event recurrence, and assessment method.
- Significant interactions between moderators and life events were observed.
Conclusions:
- The high volatility of life-event effects, influenced by numerous factors, explains inconsistent research findings.
- Future research must account for these moderators to achieve replicable results in personality change studies.
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