Scientists have identified more than 1,000 genetic variants associated with the major traits that shape human personality, offering new insight into how biology and life experiences may influence who people become.
The findings, published in the journal Nature on September 2, are based on genetic and personality data from more than one million people. Researchers examined the biological factors associated with the five widely recognised personality dimensions known as the Big Five: extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, neuroticism and conscientiousness.
Psychologists have long believed that personality has a genetic component, but earlier research often failed to identify clear links between particular genes and personality traits. Scientists now believe that thousands of genetic variants may each have small effects, making much larger studies necessary.
Researchers gathered information from data repositories around the world that combine genetic information with personality questionnaires. The size of the study allowed them to detect patterns that had been difficult to identify in smaller studies.
Michel Nivard, a professor of genomic epidemiology at the University of Bristol and one of the study’s authors, said personality is important to health because differences in traits have been associated with mental health and other outcomes.
Neuroticism, for example, has been linked to anxiety, while personality traits can also influence behaviours such as taking medication regularly or seeking medical treatment.
The researchers found that genetic profiles associated with extraversion were linked to a greater likelihood of COVID-19 infection during the early stages of the pandemic. Nivard suggested that more outgoing people may have been more likely to resume social interactions when restrictions were relaxed.
The study also found associations between personality-related genetic profiles and where people lived during midlife. Data from the UK Biobank indicated that people with genetic profiles linked to greater openness tended to live in cosmopolitan cities, while those associated with higher neuroticism were more likely to live in affluent suburban areas.
Despite the large number of genetic links identified, researchers stressed that genetics explains only a limited part of personality. The study estimated that genetic information could predict up to about 13% of variation in personality traits.
The findings reinforce the view that personality develops through a complex interaction between inherited biology and the environment. Having genetic variants associated with a particular trait does not mean a person will necessarily develop that characteristic, or pass it directly to their children.
Researchers said the findings could help scientists investigate the biological processes underlying personality and explore potential links with mental health. They may eventually contribute to research into identifying people at greater risk of certain conditions.
However, the researchers cautioned against using genetic testing as a substitute for established personality assessments. Nivard said academically validated Big Five questionnaires remain a better way to understand an individual’s personality than a genetic test.
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