While anxiety can affect anyone, research consistently shows that certain personality traits make some individuals more vulnerable. The strongest predictor is high neuroticism, one of the Big Five personality traits. People scoring high on neuroticism tend to experience intense negative emotions—worry, fear, sadness, and irritability more frequently and intensely than others. They react strongly to stress, ruminate on problems, and often anticipate the worst outcomes, even in neutral situations.
Studies using the NEO-PI-R (a widely validated Big Five inventory) reveal that neuroticism correlates with anxiety disorders at 0.50–0.70, far higher than any other trait. For example, a 2023 meta-analysis in Clinical Psychology Review (n=120,000+) confirmed neuroticism as the single best personality predictor of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, and panic disorder.
Within the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), types with Introversion (I) and Feeling (F) especially INFP, INFJ, ISFP, and ISFJ score highest on neuroticism measures and report elevated anxiety. These types are deeply sensitive to criticism, perfectionistic, and prone to overthinking social interactions. A 2024 Journal of Personality study found INFJs and INFPs had anxiety rates 2.5 times the population average.
Other contributing types include:
- Type A personality: Competitive, impatient, and hyper-vigilant to threats.
- Highly Sensitive Person (HSP): Roughly 15–20% of people; they process sensory data deeply and become overwhelmed easily.
- Avoidant and Dependent personality styles (DSM-5 clusters): Fear rejection and abandonment, leading to chronic worry.
Genetics explain about 30–40% of neuroticism, with the rest shaped by early environment and learned coping patterns. The good news? Neuroticism is not fixed. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and gradual exposure can lower reactivity by 20–40% within months.
In short: High neuroticism especially in sensitive, introspective types like INFP/INFJ or HSPs is the personality profile most prone to anxiety. Recognizing these traits early allows targeted strategies to build resilience and reduce suffering.