Are there personality traits that protect against depression?

Certain personality traits make it less likely to develop depressive disorders.

Can a person's personality condition him or her to develop a mental disorder? Is an extraverted person less likely to suffer from a depressive disorder?

Recent studies point towards the idea that there are certain personality traits that protect a person from depression or other emotional problems. or other emotional problems. Throughout this article we will talk about what they are and we will see explanations on why they could prevent us from depressive disorders.

• Related article, "Are there several types of depression?"

Personality and depressive disorders

Although it is true that any person is susceptible to suffer from a depressive disorder, and although there are many factors that influence the development of depression, personality traits are among those that have the greatest influence.

Thus, just as there are certain personality traits that make a person more vulnerable to developing depression, recent studies have shown that there are others that can have a protective effect on health. may have a protective effect on a person's mental health..

Among the traits that, along with many other factors, could favor the onset of depression are neurotic personality, cyclothymic personality and personality with obsessive tendencies.

Personality traits that prevent depression

Those with neurotic personality traits tend to experience a lot of insecurities accompanied by feelings of inferiority. tend to experience many insecurities accompanied by feelings of inferiority, this way of being makes them more vulnerable to suffer a kind of depression known as dysthymic disorder. This is distinguished by low self-esteem and a melancholic and sad mood that remains over time.

In contrast, in the cyclothymic personality, the person tends to suffer from ups and downs. tends to suffer ups and downs in his or her mood.. This oscillation, together with a series of external factors, can lead to the appearance of a bipolar disorder, in which the person goes from feeling deeply sad and depressed to periods of extreme happiness and expansiveness.

Finally, people with obsessive personality traits, with extremely orderly habits, and being meticulous and perfectionist being meticulous and perfectionistmay develop situational depression. In which the person experiences a short-term depression as a consequence of notable and unforeseen life changes.

Conversely, regardless of the type of depressive disorder a person is likely to suffer from, recent research has found a relationship between certain personality traits and a lower risk of depression.

These factors are extraverted personality and emotional stability:

1. Extraversion

We understand by extroversion or extroverted people, all those who enjoy being with more people, who enjoy being with more people, are sociable, have an extensive network of friendships and have a great involvement with the and have a great involvement with the outside world around them. In addition, they are action-oriented, energetic, assertive and whose attention is directed to the outside world and not so much to their own inner self.

2. Emotional stability

Another personality trait that has recently been considered as a protective factor against depression is emotional stability. Emotional stability refers to the ability of people to remain mentally stable and balanced. If a person does not possess this stability, he or she will tend to experience negative emotions on a more recurrent basis. experience negative emotions on a more recurrent basis.

What does the research reveal?

In a recent study, conducted by a group of psychologists at the University at Buffalo, a series of results were obtained that support the hypothesis that if a person is extraverted and applied, these personality traits offer protection against depression, even if neuroticism is their primary personality trait..

That is, even if a person has a predominantly neurotic personality (remember that neuroticism facilitates depression), if he or she is also extroverted, this trait will weigh more heavily in protecting against depression.

The findings made in this research suggest that it is necessary to move away from focusing on specific personality traits and to look at how combinations of these traits can predict and protect a person from disorders such as depression. against disorders such as depression.

The Naragon-Gainey study

As cited above, the team of research psychologists at the University at Buffalo, led by Professor Kristin Naragon-Gainley, conducted interviews with 463 adult participants who had been in psychiatric treatment for at least two years prior to the interview.

After the interview, the participants completed a large number of psychological tests and questionnaires assessing trait traits and which assessed the traits of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness, since these three traits are those that show the strongest relationship with mood and anxiety disturbances.

The results obtained in this study may shed light on how the combination of certain personality traits favor the development of certain emotional disorders such as depression or anxiety or, on the contrary, protect the person from them.

According to Professor Naragon-Gainey, high levels of extraversion are a strength for the individual, as they social interactions and participation in activities that are rewarding and rewarding for the individual.. This extraversion favors the creation of a stable social network through which to obtain support, as well as a positive affectivity derived from interaction with social media.

Likewise, high levels of conscientiousness or conscientiousness are highly correlated with the pursuit and achievement of goals and the implementation of plans. This is helpful in combating the rejection and avoidance that can accompany neuroticism.

Moreover, thanks to these findings, psychology and psychiatry professionals will be able to reinforce, through psychological treatments, those personality traits that studies have shown to be protective.