Genetic Epidemiology, Translational Neurogenomics, Psychiatric Genetics and Statistical Genetics Laboratories investigate the pattern of disease in families, particularly identical and non-identical twins, to assess the relative importance of genes and environment in a variety of important health problems.
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PMID
42686911
TITLE
Robust inference and correlates from genetic associations with personality.
ABSTRACT
Personality traits describe stable differences in how people think, feel and behave, and how they interact with and experience their social and physical environments . Many questions remain unanswered about associations between DNA and personality traits, such as their robustness, their generalizability and the biological and social pathways through which they act. Here we meta-analyse data across 46 cohorts comprising 611,037 to 1.14 million participants with European-like and African-like genomes for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of the Big Five personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience), and data from up to 50,725 participants for within-family GWAS. We identify 1,260 lead genetic variants associated with personality, including 824 novel variants . Common genetic variants explain a moderate 4.8-9.3% of the variance in measures of each trait, and 9.3-13.3% among instruments with typical measurement reliability. Genetic associations with personality are highly consistent but not identical across geography, reporter (self versus close other), age group and measurement instrument, and we find minimal spousal assortment for personality in recent history. In contrast to many other social and behavioural traits , within-family GWAS and polygenic index analyses indicate that genetic associations with personality are minimally confounded by the shared family environment. Polygenic prediction, genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization analyses indicate that personality traits have widespread, potentially causal associations with consequential behaviours and life outcomes. Overall, we find that the genetic architecture of personality is robustly generalizable, minimally confounded and widely relevant to human experience.
© 2026. The Author(s).
DATE PUBLISHED
2026 Sep 02
HISTORY
PUBSTATUS PUBSTATUSDATE
received 2025/06/02
accepted 2026/08/05
pubmed 2026/09/03 05:37
medline 2026/09/03 05:37
entrez 2026/09/03 00:49
pmc-release 2026/09/19
AUTHORS
NAME COLLECTIVENAME LASTNAME FORENAME INITIALS AFFILIATION AFFILIATIONINFO
Schwaba T Schwaba Ted T Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. tedschwaba@gmail.com.
Clapp Sullivan ML Clapp Sullivan Margaret L ML Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Akingbuwa WA Akingbuwa Wonuola A WA Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ilves K Ilves Kerli K Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Tanksley PT Tanksley Peter T PT ALERRT Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
Williams CM Williams Camille M CM Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique (ENS, EHESS, CNRS), École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France.
Dragostinov Y Dragostinov Yavor Y Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Mallard TT Mallard Travis T TT Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Tubbs JD Tubbs Justin D JD Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Liao W Liao Wangjingyi W School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Ackerman LS Ackerman Lindsay S LS Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Fealy JCM Fealy Josephine C M JCM Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Hemani G Hemani Gibran G Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
de la Fuente J de la Fuente Javier J Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Smith GD Smith George Davey GD Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Gupta P Gupta Priya P Yale University, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, CT, USA.
Stein MB Stein Murray B MB University of California San Diego, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
Gelernter J Gelernter Joel J Yale University, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, CT, USA.
Levey DF Levey Daniel F DF Yale University, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, CT, USA.
Võsa U Võsa Urmo U Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Ausmees L Ausmees Liisi L Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Realo A Realo Anu A School of Educational Sciences, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.
Estonian Biobank Research Team
Vaht M Vaht Mariliis M Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Allik J Allik Jüri J Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Esko T Esko Tõnu T Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Mõttus R Mõttus René R Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Vainik U Vainik Uku U Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Jonsdottir GA Jonsdottir Gudrun A GA deCODE genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Thorleifsson G Thorleifsson Gudmar G deCODE genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Gunnarsson ÁF Gunnarsson Árni Freyr ÁF deCODE genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Bjornsdottir G Bjornsdottir Gyda G deCODE genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Thorgeirsson TE Thorgeirsson Thorgeir E TE deCODE genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Stefansson H Stefansson Hreinn H deCODE genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Stefansson K Stefansson Kari K deCODE genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Cheesman R Cheesman Rosa R School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Qin Q Qin Qi Q PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Corfield EC Corfield Elizabeth C EC Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology Group, Research Department, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Ask H Ask Helga H PsychGen Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health, Division of Public Health and Prevention, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Torvik FA Torvik Fartein Ask FA Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Ystrom E Ystrom Eivind E Centre for Research on Equality in Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Tesli M Tesli Martin M Department of Psychiatry, Østfold Hospital, Sarpsborg, Norway.
Boomsma DI Boomsma Dorret I DI Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
de Geus EJC de Geus Eco J C EJC Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Hottenga JJ Hottenga Jouke-Jan JJ Department of Biological Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Melo DC Melo Dener Cardoso DC Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Snieder H Snieder Harold H Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Hartman CA Hartman Catharina A CA Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Xia C Xia Charley C Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Campbell A Campbell Archie A Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Luciano M Luciano Michelle M Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Deary IJ Deary Ian J IJ Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Hill WD Hill W David WD Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Jang SK Jang Seon-Kyeong SK Department of Computational Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Vrieze SI Vrieze Scott I SI Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Abecasis G Abecasis Gonçalo G Regeneron Genetics Center, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA.
Lupton MK Lupton Michelle K MK School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Mitchell BL Mitchell Brittany L BL School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Viher PV Viher Petra V PV QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Colodro-Conde L Colodro-Conde Lucía L School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Martin NG Martin Nicholas G NG QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Medland SE Medland Sarah E SE School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Derks EM Derks Eske M EM QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Wormington B Wormington Briar B QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Kaprio J Kaprio Jaakko J Institute for Molecular Medicine FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Silventoinen K Silventoinen Karri K Population Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Palviainen T Palviainen Teemu T Institute for Molecular Medicine FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Musial A Musial Agnieszka A School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Rimfeld K Rimfeld Kaili K Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Plomin R Plomin Robert R Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Malanchini M Malanchini Margherita M Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Dick DM Dick Danielle M DM Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Aliev F Aliev Fazil F Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
COGA Collaborators
Spit for Science Working Group
Wesseldijk LW Wesseldijk Laura W LW Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ullén F Ullén Fredrik F Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Mosing MA Mosing Miriam A MA Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Kranzler HR Kranzler Henry R HR Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Nunez Y Nunez Yaira Y Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Beck S Beck Sarah S Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Polimanti R Polimanti Renato R Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Edwards T Edwards Tobias T Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Giannelis A Giannelis Alexandros A Department of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Willoughby EA Willoughby Emily A EA Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Lee JJ Lee James J JJ Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
McGue M McGue Matt M Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Terracciano A Terracciano Antonio A Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, ML, USA.
Marongiu M Marongiu Michele M Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Cagliari, Italy.
Fiorillo E Fiorillo Edoardo E Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Cagliari, Italy.
Cucca F Cucca Francesco F Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Study of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Sutin AR Sutin Angelina R AR Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
van der Most PJ van der Most Peter J PJ Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Oldehinkel AJ Oldehinkel Albertine J AJ Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Kretschmer T Kretschmer Tina T Pedagogical Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Shabalin AA Shabalin Andrey A AA Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Docherty AR Docherty Anna R AR Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Krueger RF Krueger Robert F RF Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Freilich CD Freilich Colin D CD Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Mishra BH Mishra Binisha H BH Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland.
Lehtimäki T Lehtimäki Terho T Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland.
Raitakari OT Raitakari Olli T OT InFLAMES Research Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Kähönen M Kähönen Mika M Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Saarinen A Saarinen Aino A Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Dobewall H Dobewall Henrik H Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Keltikangas-Järvinen L Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa L Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Berger K Berger Klaus K Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Herrera-Rivero M Herrera-Rivero Marisol M Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, Göttingen, Germany.
Streit F Streit Fabian F German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Awasthi S Awasthi Swapnil S Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Witt SH Witt Stephanie H SH Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Tuhkanen J Tuhkanen Johanna J Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Räikkönen K Räikkönen Katri K Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Eriksson JG Eriksson Johan G JG Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National University Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore.
Lahti J Lahti Jari J Folkhälsan Research Centre, Helsinki, Finland.
Davies G Davies Gail G Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Redmond P Redmond Paul P Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Taylor A Taylor Adele A Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Corley J Corley Janie J Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Russ TC Russ Tom C TC Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Ciullo M Ciullo Marina M Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy.
Nutile T Nutile Teresa T Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy.
Ding J Ding Jun J Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Qian Y Qian Yong Y Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Tanaka T Tanaka Toshiko T Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Ferrucci L Ferrucci Luigi L Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Zillich L Zillich Lea L Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Sirignano L Sirignano Lea L Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Harden KP Harden K Paige KP Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Genç E Genç Erhan E Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Neuroimaging and Interindividual Differences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
Gajewski PD Gajewski Patrick D PD Department of Ergonomics, Networking Group Aging, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
Getzmann S Getzmann Stephan S Department of Ergonomics, Networking Group Aging, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
Fraenz C Fraenz Christoph C Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Neuroimaging and Interindividual Differences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
Schneider Peñate JE Schneider Peñate Javier E JE Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Lis S Lis Stefanie S Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Hall ASM Hall Alisha S M ASM Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Schmahl C Schmahl Christian C Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Herpertz SC Herpertz Sabine C SC Department of Psychosomatic General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Abdellaoui A Abdellaoui Abdel A Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Nivard MG Nivard Michel G MG Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. m.g.nivard@bristol.ac.uk.
Tucker-Drob EM Tucker-Drob Elliot M EM Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. tuckerdrob@utexas.edu.
INVESTIGATORS
LASTNAME FORENAME INITIALS AFFILIATION
Esko Tõnu T
JOURNAL
VOLUME:
ISSUE:
TITLE: Nature
ISOABBREVIATION: Nature
YEAR: 2026
MONTH: Sep
DAY: 02
MEDLINEDATE:
SEASON:
CITEDMEDIUM: Internet
ISSN: 1476-4687
ISSNTYPE: Electronic
MEDLINE JOURNAL
MEDLINETA: Nature
COUNTRY: England
ISSNLINKING: 0028-0836
NLMUNIQUEID: 0410462
PUBLICATION TYPE
PUBLICATIONTYPE TEXT
Journal Article
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K01 MH141330 NIMH NIH HHS United States
R01 AG073593 NIA NIH HHS United States
R01 MH120219 NIMH NIH HHS United States
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