Keywords
hoarding disorder, personality, five-factor model, older adults, rural
Document Type
Research Briefs
Abstract
Hoarding in late life represents a major barrier to aging in place, particularly for rural-dwelling older adults. One risk factor for hoarding disorder in late life may be underlying personality factors. However, there has not yet been an investigation of late life hoarding and possible maladaptive personality factors from the continuous five-factor model perspective in a sample of individuals diagnosed with hoarding disorder. Thus, we evaluated the five-factor personality profiles of older adults enrolled in treatment studies for hoarding disorder in rural Mississippi. Raw scores on the International Personality Item Pool-NEO-60 were converted into categories of Low (<1SD from the mean), Average (within 1SD of the mean), and High (>1SD from the mean) using a comparison sample of gender-matched older adults.At the domain level, participants disproportionally reported high levels of Extraversion and Agreeableness and low levels of Conscientiousness. At the facet level, participants reported elevated levels of Anxiety and decreased levels of Self-Consciousness in the Neuroticism domain. For Conscientiousness, participants reported disproportionately low levels of the facets Orderliness and Cautiousness and high levels of Achievement-Striving. Treatment-seeking older adults with hoarding disorder, particularly those living in the Deep South, have a unique personality profile at the facet-level that should be incorporated into assessment and treatment of this often debilitating disorder.
Recommended Citation
Dozier, M. E.,
Nix, C. A.,
&
DeShong, H. L.
(2024). Personality Profile of Rural-Dwelling Older Adults With Hoarding Disorder.
Journal of Public Health in the Deep South, 4(1), 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/2996-6833.1086
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Geropsychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Public Health Commons