Genetics: Genetic variants associated with human personality (Nature)

More than 1,000 genetic variants associated with human personality are identified in a meta-analysis of more than 1,000,000 participants published in Nature this week. The study probes the potential links between DNA variations and differences in personalities, specifically looking at five personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience. The results do not suggest that personality can be directly predicted by DNA; rather, they indicate that some variants may influence behaviour traits, although other environmental factors may still have a greater impact on personality development.  

Human personality traits can be divided into five categories, known as the Big Five: extraversion (including traits such as sociability, assertiveness and energy level), agreeableness (compassion, respectfulness and trust), conscientiousness (organization, productiveness and responsibility), neuroticism (anxiety, depression and volatility) and openness to experience (imagination, curiosity and aesthetic sensitivity). Various pieces of research over the past 100 years have demonstrated that genetic and environmental factors contribute to variation in personality. However, attempts to identify genetic signatures associated with personality traits are challenging as multiple genes may be involved and very large participant numbers are needed to make meaningful associations.  

Ted Schwaba and colleagues report the findings from a meta-analysis of Genome-Wide Association Study results from 46 cohorts encompassing up to 1,140,000 participants in total (depending on the trait studied). Their analyses uncover 1,260 genetic variants associated with personality, including 824 novel variants that have not previously been linked to personality. The associations are complex, with combinations of multiple variants associated with each trait, but apply to a range of different human groups (such as categories based on age or geographical location). Moderate variation in each trait (estimated at 7.4–10.6%) is associated with measured genetic variants that commonly vary across people. However, other factors such as environment may have a strong influence on human personality traits.

• Article
• Open access
• Published: 02 September 2026

Schwaba, T., Clapp Sullivan, M.L., Akingbuwa, W.A. et al. Robust inference and correlates from genetic associations with personality. Nature (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10992-9
 

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