Anxious Decisions: Suggestibility Mediates Neuroticism's Impact on Decision-Making Styles

Abstract

This study examines the mediating role of suggestibility in the relationship between personality traits and decision-making styles. Studied on a sample of 369 young adults, the research employed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory-3 (NEO-FFI-3) to assess personality traits, the General Decision Making Style (GDMS) scale to evaluate decision-making styles, and the Multidimensional Iowa Short Suggestibility Scale (SSS) to measure suggestibility. The mediation analysis was conducted using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results indicate that neuroticism, characterized by emotional instability and heightened stress responses, is positively correlated with increased suggestibility. This heightened suggestibility significantly mediates the relationship between neuroticism and both avoidant and dependent decision-making styles. The findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of neuroticism are more likely to exhibit suggestibility, which in turn influences their decision-making tendencies towards avoidance and dependency.

Keywords

suggestibility decision making style personality avoidant dependent

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