AUTHOR=Carver Charles S. , Johnson Sheri L. , McCullough Michael E. , Forster Daniel E. , Joormann Jutta 

TITLE=Adulthood personality correlates of childhood adversity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01357

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01357

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Childhood adversity has been linked to internalizing and externalizing disorders and personality disorders in adulthood. This study extends that research by examining several personality measures as correlates of childhood adversity.</p><p><bold>Method:</bold> In a college sample self-reports were collected of childhood adversity, several scales relating to personality, and current depression symptoms as a control variable. The personality-related scales were reduced to four latent variables, which we termed anger/aggression, extrinsic focus, agreeableness, and engagement.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Controlling for concurrent depressive symptoms and gender, higher levels of reported childhood adversity related to lower agreeableness and to higher anger/aggression and extrinsic focus.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Findings suggest that early adversity is linked to personality variables relevant to the building of social connection.</p>