A study led by Estonian and international researchers finds that loneliness is more strongly linked to personality traits such as neuroticism than previously believed.
A recent study has revealed that loneliness affects an increasing number of people globally, and individual personality traits play a more significant role in the development of loneliness than previously understood. Researchers from Estonia and other countries, including René Mõttus from the University of Tartu and Paddy Maher from London University, conducted an analysis using data from the Estonian Biobank, examining how feelings of loneliness relate to the so-called Big Five personality model.
The Big Five model characterizes human personality through five key traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The analysis of survey results from nearly 22,000 individuals showed that the feeling of loneliness is most strongly associated with neuroticism, or the tendency to experience negative emotions frequently. This finding indicates that those with higher levels of neuroticism are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness, underscoring the psychological aspects of loneliness beyond mere social factors.
A weaker correlation was found between loneliness and extraversion, suggesting that individuals who identify as more introverted tend to experience loneliness more acutely. This relationship highlights the complexity of loneliness as a psychological state influenced by personality characteristics, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches in addressing loneliness and enhancing mental well-being.
