GoKawiilStudy of 1 million people finds 1,200 gene variants tied to Big Five personality traits
Researchers analyzed genetic data from more than a million people and identified roughly 1,200 common genetic variants associated with the Big Five personality traits: extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness. Published in Nature and led in part by Michel Nivard at the University of Bristol, the work is the largest genetic analysis of personality to date, though each variant explains only a small share of trait variation.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The findings give scientists a more reliable genetic foundation for linking personality to real-world outcomes like smoking habits, COVID-19 infection risk and willingness to participate in research, since these genetic signals proved less distorted by family and social confounds than similar studies of education or income. Still, the modest effect sizes mean genetics alone cannot predict personality, and researchers caution it remains unclear whether personality itself drives these health and behavioral links.
- Over 1,200 genetic variants were linked to the Big Five personality traits in a study of 1 million+ people.
- Genetic associations with personality appear more robust to confounding factors than those for traits like income or education.
- The genetic data connects personality traits to outcomes such as smoking, COVID-19 risk and research participation, though causation isn't confirmed.
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See 23andMe Ancestry + Traits Service DNA Kit on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: nature.com — Callaway, 2026-09-02
Published there as: “Anxious or outgoing? Huge study links ‘Big Five’ personality traits to genetic variants”
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