Intervention-Related Correlated Change Between Personality Traits and Self-Esteem

A growing body of research suggests that personality traits can be changed through psychological interventions, but it is unclear whether and to what extent these trait changes are accompanied by changes in self-esteem. The present study examined the link between changes in personality traits and self-esteem during a coaching intervention for personality change. We used data (N = 1,179) from a 3-month digital coaching intervention study with three measurement occasions (pretest, posttest, follow-up) across 6 months and focused on the three largest intervention groups, which included participants who wanted to decrease negative emotionality (n = 406), increase extraversion (n = 375), or increase conscientiousness (n = 398). Accordingly, we focused on the associations between self-esteem and the three personality traits that were targeted in the intervention groups. The main results are as follows: First, self-esteem increased on average for those participants who wanted to decrease their negative emotionality or increase their extraversion. Second, the rates of change in personality traits and self-esteem were strongly associated with each other, most notably between negative emotionality and self-esteem. Third, these associations were similar across all three intervention groups and also between the intervention and postintervention phase of the study, indicating a more general pattern of correlated change. We discuss the potential relevance of correlated change for consulting research and practice.