Authors

• Kokko, Katja (University of Jyväskylä. Gerontology Research Centre and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences)

Keywords

personal identity, personality development, personality traits, psychological tests, values

Abstract

This dataset is part of the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS), which has followed the same individuals since 1968. This Developmental Psychological Perspectives on Transitions at Age 60: Individuals Navigating Across the Lifespan (TRAILS) research wave explores the lives of participants, now around 61 years old, across key areas such as family, work, housing, health and leisure. Data collection for this phase included a life situation questionnaire, a psychological interview, self-assessment forms, a health examination and monitoring of physical activity. This dataset contains personality and values tests that were sent to respondents to be completed at home.

The first personality test, the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), contains 135 questions, and measures impulsiveness, anxiety, aggressiveness and social adaptation. The respondents' habits, opinions and feelings connected to different situations were tested.

The second personality test was the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI), comprising 181 items. The instrument measures five personality traits that are commonly regarded as universal dimensions of personality: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience. Responses were recorded on a five-point scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

In addition, respondents completed the Schwartz Value survey test, which examined their personal values. The respondents were requested to rate values (such as freedom, authority and self-discipline) and behaviour/courses of action (e.g. honest, loyal, helpful, respecting elders) on a 9-point scale. They were asked to mark what values and behaviour/courses of action were the most important to them, what they opposed, what were the least important etc.