Shaping adolescent lives: The influence of personality traits on mental health and behavioral outcomes

Adolescence is a pivotal developmental period during which personality traits begin to crystallize and significantly impact mental health and behavioral outcomes. This review synthesizes existing literature on the role of personality traits in adolescence, with a particular focus on longitudinal studies and dimensional assessments. Key personality traits, such as conscientiousness, emotional stability, and extraversion, are associated with positive outcomes, including mental well-being and pro-social behavior. In contrast, traits such as neuroticism and impulsivity, as well as callous-unemotional traits, are linked to internalizing disorders, substance use, and antisocial behavior. Longitudinal research demonstrates that personality traits exhibit both stability and malleability during adolescence, offering critical insights into how these traits predict long-term outcomes, such as academic achievement, mental health disorders, and criminal behavior. The review identifies several research gaps, including the need for more cross-cultural studies and investigations into under-researched traits like openness to experience. Policy implications include the integration of personality assessments into mental health screening programs and the development of tailored interventions that focus on emotional regulation, self-control, and pro-social behaviors. By addressing these gaps and advancing intervention strategies, researchers and clinicians can better support adolescents in developing healthy personality traits that foster long-term mental well-being and positive behavioral outcomes.