Personality Traits and Personality Disorders in Late Middle and Old Age: Do They Remain Stable? A Literature Review

We reviewed the evidence regarding which personality traits and personality disorders remain stable into later middle and old age (age >60 years of age) and how expressions of (maladaptive) personality traits affect personality assessment among older adults. Our study was a literature review of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of the Five Factor Model (FFM) or DSM personality disorders in old age, using PsychInfo, Psychlit, and PubMed (period 1980–2012). Combinations of the following keywords were used: personality, development, stability, five factor personality model, big 5, (borderline) personality disorder(s), aging, older adults. Of the 22 relevant articles that were found, 17 longitudinal or cross-sectional studies of the FFM mainly supported the hypothesis that personality characteristics are susceptible to change over a person’s entire lifetime. Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness appear to diminish as a person ages, while, conversely, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness appear to incr...