A collaborative study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine indicates that certain personality traits may influence the likelihood of experiencing depression. The findings were reported in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Source: Journal of Affective Disorders.
In the study, investigators drew on data from nearly 1,500 personality psychology surveys completed by volunteers ranging from six to eighty-five years old. The assessments examined emotional stability as well as tendencies toward impulsivity, sociability, openness, and, alternatively, calmness and solitude. Source: Journal of Affective Disorders.
The analysis revealed that individuals exhibiting traits such as introversion or higher levels of neuroticism stood a greater risk of depression. Introversion refers to a fundamental orientation that prioritizes inner experiences, while neuroticism describes a propensity for rapid fluctuations in mood and greater susceptibility to anxiety and emotional disruption. Source: Journal of Affective Disorders.
Further findings showed that this association was especially evident during adolescence. It is suggested that ongoing maturation of the prefrontal cortex during teenage years may amplify certain character traits, thereby increasing vulnerability to depressive symptoms. Source: Journal of Affective Disorders.
Earlier research has also linked depression to other health conditions, such as heart disease, highlighting the interplay between mental and physical well-being. Source: Journal of Affective Disorders.