Substantive individual differences in social desirability: Stability, change, and associations with personality traits and job satisfaction in a large-scale longitudinal survey

Whether individual differences in Social Desirability (SD) reflect a substantive personality aspect or a stylistic response bias remains debated. Using a 6-wave dataset (1-year lag; N = 2,648), this study aimed to examine whether SD (measured with a 10-item dichotomous scale) exhibits patterns of stability and change similar to those of personality constructs typically related to adjustment. Tetrachoric (auto)correlations and a series of longitudinal structural equation models for categorical variables were adopted. After establishing thresholds/loadings invariance, results showed (a) high rank-order stability, positive mean-level change, and significant interindividual differences in intraindividual change; (b) consistent associations between SD baseline levels and Big Five traits; (c) consistent associations between SD individual-level change and job satisfaction. Overall, findings support the trait-like nature of SD.