Individual differences in emotional reactivity: A multidimensional systematic review across the big five
- 1KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- 2University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- 3International Psychoanalytic University Berlin, Germany
Abstract
Background: Emotional reactivity reflects how individuals respond to emotional stimuli and can be characterized by multiple dimensions, including intensity, sensitivity, and persistence. Together with dispositional tendencies toward positive and negative emotional experiences, these dimensions define an individual’s emotional profile. Despite substantial research, evidence remains fragmented, with a predominant emphasis on Neuroticism and negative emotions, hindering a comprehensive understanding of emotional reactivity across the Big Five personality traits. Methods: This systematic review synthesized evidence on how the Big Five personality traits relate to core domains of emotional reactivity, including intensity, sensitivity, persistence, and the frequency of positive and negative emotional experiences. A total of thirty records, comprising 31 studies published between 1999 and 2024 and yielding 50 independent samples, were included and analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. The study protocol was preregistered on PROSPERO under CRD420251067878. Results: Personality traits showed distinct patterns of emotional reactivity across multiple domains. Neuroticism displayed the most consistently maladaptive profile, characterized by heightened negative affect, greater sensitivity to stressors, and prolonged emotional recovery. Extraversion and Conscientiousness were generally associated with more adaptive emotional profiles, particularly greater positive emotionality. Openness to Experience showed a more heterogeneous profile, including heightened sensitivity and divergence between subjective and physiological responses, whereas Agreeableness reflected a predominantly prosocial profile with context-dependent variation in negative emotional responses. Conclusions: The findings support a multidimensional conceptualization of emotional reactivity across the Big Five personality traits. This perspective may improve understanding of individual differences in emotional functioning and mental health outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{nguyen2026individual,
title = {{Individual differences in emotional reactivity: A multidimensional systematic review across the big five}},
author = {Dung Ngoc Nguyen and Chi Le Phuong Trinh and Son Van Le Phan and Oanh Tran Yen Pham and Ngan Thi Thanh Nguyen},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0357470},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357470},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Individual differences in emotional reactivity: A multidimensional systematic review across the big five
AU - Dung Ngoc Nguyen
AU - Chi Le Phuong Trinh
AU - Son Van Le Phan
AU - Oanh Tran Yen Pham
AU - Ngan Thi Thanh Nguyen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/09
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0357470
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357470
AB - Background: Emotional reactivity reflects how individuals respond to emotional stimuli and can be characterized by multiple dimensions, including intensity, sensitivity, and persistence. Together with dispositional tendencies toward positive and negative emotional experiences, these dimensions define an individual’s emotional profile. Despite substantial research, evidence remains fragmented, with a predominant emphasis on Neuroticism and negative emotions, hindering a comprehensive understanding of emotional reactivity across the Big Five personality traits. Methods: This systematic review synthesized evidence on how the Big Five personality traits relate to core domains of emotional reactivity, including intensity, sensitivity, persistence, and the frequency of positive and negative emotional experiences. A total of thirty records, comprising 31 studies published between 1999 and 2024 and yielding 50 independent samples, were included and analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. The study protocol was preregistered on PROSPERO under CRD420251067878. Results: Personality traits showed distinct patterns of emotional reactivity across multiple domains. Neuroticism displayed the most consistently maladaptive profile, characterized by heightened negative affect, greater sensitivity to stressors, and prolonged emotional recovery. Extraversion and Conscientiousness were generally associated with more adaptive emotional profiles, particularly greater positive emotionality. Openness to Experience showed a more heterogeneous profile, including heightened sensitivity and divergence between subjective and physiological responses, whereas Agreeableness reflected a predominantly prosocial profile with context-dependent variation in negative emotional responses. Conclusions: The findings support a multidimensional conceptualization of emotional reactivity across the Big Five personality traits. This perspective may improve understanding of individual differences in emotional functioning and mental health outcomes.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -