Better Safe Than Sorry? Risks and Benefits of Neuroticism in Adolescence

Neuroticism is known for detrimental outcomes, but it may also serve beneficial functions in adolescence, where avoiding and protecting oneself from threats becomes crucial. We examined potential benefits of neuroticism based on longitudinal data of two samples of Dutch adolescents, one population (n = 2229, 51% female) and one clinic-referred (n = 543, 34% female) sample. Neuroticism was measured with parent-ratings of the temperament dimensions fear and frustration and used to predict a diverse set of outcomes in the domains lifestyle choices (e.g., substance abuse) and social resources (e.g., social skills) between ages 11 to 19. High neuroticism conveyed heightened risk but four key observations refine this picture: (1) higher fear related to more social skills and prosocial behavior among adolescents in the clinic-referred sample; (2) fear generally related to fewer risks than frustration; (3) controlling for childhood adversity (e.g., low socioeconomic status, parental divorce) removed links between fear and most detrimental outcomes; (4) both fear and frustration were consistently associated with parent-rated social behavior problems, while other associations varied across neuroticism scales and measurement points. Altogether, we provide initial evidence that, under certain conditions, neuroticism can be beneficial in adolescence, especially among vulnerable individuals and in the social domain.