Relationship Between Personality and Repetitive Negative Thinking: Impact on the Ability to Practice Self-Compassion
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2023
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Abstract
Repetitive negative thinking can impact the individual’s ability to develop mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Most of our thoughts are considered negative and could impact everyday life. If the individual is struggling with these thoughts and cannot break out of this thought cycle, then their life could be severely impacted. This study investigated if personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability/reverse neuroticism) could be a factor for repetitive negative thinking and their ability to practice self-compassion. This current study hypothesized that high levels of neuroticism, as well as low levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness, will lead to higher levels of repetitive negative thinking and hurt their ability to practice self-compassion. 32 participants completed surveys online measuring personality (IPIP), repetitive negative thinking (PTQ), and self-compassion (SCS). Individuals were over the age of 18 without certain mental health diagnoses. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and ANOVA. The results of this study found a significant relationship between emotional stability/reverse neuroticism and overall PTQ scores as well as overall SCS scores. Significant results were also found when comparing overall PTQ scores to overall SCS scores. However, there was inconclusive evidence to predict if agreeableness and conscientiousness impacted repetitive negative thinking and the ability to practice self-compassion.
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Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Repetitive Negative Thinking, Self-compassion