Personality, Interpersonal Problems, and Anxiety Among Older Adults.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined relationships between personality disorder (PD) features, Big Five personality traits, and interpersonal problems with anxiety. METHOD: Older adults (N = 130) completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale, Coolidge Axis Two Inventory, Big Five Inventory-2, and Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Problems. Pearson correlation analyses were used to assess simple relationships between anxiety with PD features (CATI scales), Big Five personality domains (BFI-2 scales), and interpersonal problems (CSIP scales). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the extent to which the PD scales of the CATI, the personality scales of the BFI-2, and the scales of the CSIP explained variance in anxiety. RESULTS: Anxiety was positively correlated with 13 of 14 PD scales, ranging from .23 (Narcissistic) to .61 (Depressive). Regarding Big Five personality traits, anxiety was negatively associated with Agreeableness (-.23), Conscientiousness (-.30), and Extraversion (-.31) but was positively associated with Negative Emotionality (.56). Regarding interpersonal problems, anxiety was positively related to all eight CSIP scales, ranging from Self-sacrificing (.30) to Distant/Cold (.62). Regression analyses indicated that PD features accounted for the most variance in anxiety symptoms (53%), followed by interpersonal problems (46%), and Big Five personality traits (33%). DISCUSSION: Anxiety appears to be meaningfully associated with PD features, several aspects of Big Five personality traits, and interpersonal problems, suggesting that these variables may play important roles in the development and maintenance of anxiety, or vice versa. Our findings especially speak to the growing awareness of the deleterious impact of PD features on clinical syndromes in later life, as evidenced by strong comorbidities with anxiety.

Psychometric evaluation of the Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form 2.0 among older adults.

The Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS-BF 2.0) is a new measure of personality functioning according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition's, alternative model of personality disorders, containing a total personality functioning score and two subscales (Self and Interpersonal). The LPFS-BF 2.0 has limited evidence of validity among older adults. Subsequently, this study examined relationships between the LPFS-BF 2.0 and anxiety, interpersonal functioning, and normative personality traits to establish convergent validity. In all, 130 community-dwelling older adults (Mage = 64.61) completed the LPFS-BF 2.0, Geriatric Anxiety Scale, Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Problems (CSIP), and Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2). Internal consistency (Cronbach's α) was acceptable to good for each of the LPFS-BF 2.0 scale scores (Self, α = .74; Interpersonal, α = .85; Total Personality Functioning, α = .79). Correlations were computed between the LPFS-BF 2.0 scales and the Geriatric Anxiety Scale, CSIP, and BFI-2. Overall, significant correlations were detected in expected directions. Additionally, to further establish convergent validity, regression analyses were conducted with the CSIP and BFI-2 scales predicting each of the LPFS-BF 2.0 scales. The models accounted for significant variance, and significant predictors were found in anticipated and theoretically consistent directions. Results provide strong but initial psychometric support for the use of the LPFS-BF 2.0 as an assessment tool for measuring personality functioning among older adults. An implication is that this measure may be used to identify important personality features that are part of a full assessment of personality pathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).