Table1_Latent profile of personality traits for American older adults and its transition during the COVID-19 pandemic.docx

BackgroundThe impact of COVID-19 on older adults’ personality development is essential for emergency management but under-researched. This study seeks to explore the personality profiles of older adults living in the United States and how these profiles transitioned during the pandemic.
MethodsLongitudinal data were collected from 3,550 adults aged 60 and older who participated in both the 2016 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey (61.18% female, mean age 65.85 in 2016). Personality traits were assessed using the Midlife Development Inventory. COVID-19-related experiences including pandemic concerns, restricted healthcare access, financial instability, work challenges, disrupted social connections, and mutual aid behaviors. Latent Profile Analysis and Transition Analysis were used for analysis.
ResultsThree distinct personality profiles were identified: Well-adjusted, Moderate-adjusted, and Poor-adjusted. About 42% of respondents experienced personality changes during the pandemic. Higher levels of COVID-19 concern were linked to an increased likelihood of transitioning to Poor-adjusted from Moderate (OR=1.06, p<0.05) or Well-adjusted (OR=1.05, p<0.01). Challenges such as healthcare delays and financial hardships hindered transitions from Poor- to Moderate-adjusted (Healthcare delay: OR=0.39, p<0.05; Financial hardships: OR=0.67, p<0.05) but increased the likelihood of Moderate-adjusted individuals transitioning to Poor-adjusted (Healthcare delay: OR=1.46, p<0.05; Financial hardships: OR=1.51, p<0.05). However, Poor-adjusted individuals who provided help to others were more likely to transition to Moderate-adjusted (OR=2.71, p<0.01).
ConclusionsPersonality transitions during crisis are significant among older adults. Future interventions should focus on addressing traumatic concerns, encouraging helping behaviors, and mitigating healthcare and financial challenges to support older adults’ personality development during crisis.

研究背景：新冠疫情对老年人群人格发展的影响对于应急管理而言至关重要，但目前相关研究仍较为匮乏。本研究旨在探究居住于美国的老年人的人格特征画像，以及此类画像在疫情期间的转变情况。

研究方法：本研究收集了3550名60岁及以上老年人的纵向数据，这些受试者均参与了2016年与2020年两波次的健康与退休调查（Health and Retirement Survey），其中女性占比61.18%，2016年时的平均年龄为65.85岁。采用中年发展量表（Midlife Development Inventory）对人格特质进行评估。收集的新冠疫情相关经历包括：疫情担忧、医疗服务获取受限、经济不稳定、工作挑战、社会联系中断以及互助行为。分析过程采用潜在剖面分析（Latent Profile Analysis）与转变分析（Transition Analysis）。

研究结果：本研究识别出三种截然不同的人格特征画像：适应良好型（Well-adjusted）、适应中等型（Moderate-adjusted）与适应不良型（Poor-adjusted）。约42%的受试者在疫情期间出现了人格转变。更高水平的新冠疫情担忧与从适应中等型或适应良好型转向适应不良型的概率升高相关（适应中等型转向：OR=1.06，p<0.05；适应良好型转向：OR=1.05，p<0.01）。医疗延误与经济困境等挑战会阻碍从适应不良型向适应中等型的转变（医疗延误：OR=0.39，p<0.05；经济困境：OR=0.67，p<0.05），但会提升适应中等型个体转向适应不良型的概率（医疗延误：OR=1.46，p<0.05；经济困境：OR=1.51，p<0.05）。不过，曾向他人提供帮助的适应不良型个体更有可能转变为适应中等型（OR=2.71，p<0.01）。

研究结论：危机期间的人格转变在老年人群中表现显著。未来的干预措施应聚焦于缓解创伤性担忧、鼓励互助行为，并减轻医疗与经济层面的挑战，以支持老年人在危机期间的人格发展。