Personality and psychosocial dysfunction in schizophrenia: the association of extraversion and neuroticism to deficits in work performance

Research on vocational dysfunction in schizophrenia has as yet only examined associated features of illness. We hypothesized that personality variables may be also associated with work function. We reasoned that higher levels of extraversion and neuroticism would predict poor function by virtue of the social support seeking and passive/avoidant coping styles associated with each. To test this, multiple regressions were conducted in which measures of extraversion and neuroticism predicted work performance among 43 subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Higher levels of extraversion and neuroticism significantly predicted poorer function, accounting for between 7% and 27% of the variance in global cooperativeness, work quality, work habits and personal presentation measures of work behavior. The potential importance of assessing personality in rehabilitation is discussed.