4 in 10 Say Young Adults Experienced Personality Changes Due to COVID-19

While more consistent than changing, a personality is not fixed and can respond to changes during young adulthood or after stressful personal life events.

The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented challenge that affected billions worldwide. It not only created severe negative impacts on the global economy, but the stress of the pandemic has led to significant changes in one’s personal life.

A survey launched by Real Research, an online survey app, attempted to gather opinions about how the pandemic could have affected a person’s personality.

6 in 10 Strongly Agree That Personality Can Change During Adulthood

To add, not only during young adulthood can one’s personality change, but also during stressful events such as COVID-19. Another 18.69% somewhat agree with this. However, 1.92% disagree.

The survey report further highlights the following:

• The majority (53.73%) say changes in one’s personality happened during the early phase of COVID-19 (Dec 2019 – Feb 2020)
• 4 in 10 say young adults (17 to 19 years old) experienced significant personality changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak
• 44.42% believe the pandemic, in general, affected a person’s personality more toward the good

Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Warped Adults’ Personalities?

Yes, our survey reports clearly show that 41.67% strongly agree that personality changes after covid. A further 22.13% somewhat agree, while only 8.09% disagree.

It seems like a long time since the pandemic began. It started in late 2019, and during its three years course, people adapted in different ways and observed personality changes after covid.

Our survey identified which phase during the pandemic significantly caused personality changes after covid. The majority (53.73%) consider it likely happened during the early phase (Dec 2019 – Feb 2020). 33.68% believe it occurred during the acute phase (Mar 2020 – Dec 2020), and the remaining (12.59%) during the adaptation phase (Jan 2021 – Feb 2022).

Age Groups with Personality Changes During the Pandemic

4 in 10 say young adults (17 to 19 years old) experienced significant personality changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 34.52% believe it is the adults (20 to 39 years old), 17.31% say it is the middle age (40 to 59 years old), and the rest think it is the seniors (60 years above).

How Does the Pandemic Affect a Person’s Personality?

Many contemporary personality psychologists believe that there are five basic dimensions of personality, often referred to as the “Big 5” personality traits. Our survey attempted to gauge which personality was mainly affected by COVID-19.

Most choose Neuroticism, or the tendency to feel negative emotions and stress (65.98%), followed by Extraversion, or the tendency to be energetic and outgoing (19.34%). Next to it are Openness, or the tendency to be curious and creative (9.13%); Agreeableness, or the tendency to be trusting and compassionate (3%); and lastly, Conscientiousness, or the tendency to be organized and goal-driven (2.55%).

Will These Personality Changes be a Long-Term or a Short-Term Shock?

According to 47.29% of respondents, these personality changes after covid could last long. In contrast, 31.16% say it would only be more of a short-term shock.

Personality Changes After Covid: Good or Bad?

In some ways, these personality changes after covid could have affected a person’s health. Our survey reported that 44.86% observed it afflicted a person’s physical aspect. Some say it instead affected the emotional (27.67%), social (23.46%), spiritual (2.36%), or intellectual aspects (1.65%).

Lastly, the survey asked if the pandemic, in general, affected a person’s personality more towards the good or the bad. Among respondents, 44.42% believe it is a positive development, while 18.96% think otherwise.