Personality Change After Spousal Loss: Re-Examining the Posttraumatic Growth Framework Using a Matched Longitudinal Design

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to desired psychological change following adversity, traditionally assessed across five domains (e.g., Personal Strength and Relating to Others). Research suggests that PTG may be operationalized as personality change. This study examines whether spousal loss is associated with desired changes in Big Five traits as a form of PTG. We included n = 256 spousal loss cases from the publicly available Dutch LISS panel and matched controls. Controls were identified using propensity score matching on relevant covariates and a dependent variable matching procedure to ensure baseline trait similarity. Annual assessments spanning 2 years before to 4 years after the loss were analyzed using linear mixed models. Spousal loss was not associated with desired personality changes. On the contrary, bereaved persons showed a noticeable temporal increase in Neuroticism surrounding the loss and decreasing Conscientiousness after loss. Especially in bereaved men, Neuroticism rose until the year of loss and declined subsequently but remained above control levels. The predominant trait-based operationalization of PTG contradicts retrospective self-reports. Perceived PTG may align with a curvilinear course of Neuroticism, where eventual posttrauma reductions in emotional distress are perceived as growth.