Abstract
This study tested whether divorce helps explain individual differences in personality development in the years that follow a divorce. The sample consisted of 526 middle-aged adults aged 42-46years at the beginning. Personality traits were measured using the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory at three measurement occasions over 12years. First, personality development was characterized by individual differences in change. Second, those individuals who experienced a divorce showed a decrease in extraversion and positive affect over time although nondivorced individuals did not change on these traits. Third, divorce was associated with a decrease in dependability. Fourth, divorce was associated with a decrease in orderliness for individuals who were remarried. The results of this study indicated that divorce had little influence on personality development.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 122-137 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Personal Relationships |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2015 |