Psychological traits predict who uses self-help products but usage is not associated with two-year personality change.

Michael D Krämer, Eva Asselmann, Claudia Harzer, Jaap J A Denissen, Wiebke Bleidorn

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Michael D KrämerDepartment of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/7, CH-8050, Zurich, Switzerland. m.kraemer@psychologie.uzh.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9883-5676

Eva AsselmannDepartment of Psychology, Institute for Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine, HMU Health and Medical University, Potsdam, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2132-8852

Claudia HarzerDepartment of Psychology, IESW Institute for Environmental, Social and Work Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7393-4793

Jaap J A DenissenDevelopmental Psychology, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6282-4107

Wiebke BleidornDepartment of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/7, CH-8050, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3795-8143

Funding

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung 205026

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Self-help products such as books and apps are booming, often promising personal growth and well-being gains. Despite their popularity, little research has examined the psychological predictors and consequences of self-help product use. Here, we tested predictors of self-help product use and their links with changes in personality traits, life satisfaction, and self-esteem over 2 years in a representative Swiss sample (N = 2,391; 5 waves). A majority reported ever using or purchasing self-help products. Usage was more likely among women, more educated and younger adults, those higher in openness, lower in emotional stability and self-esteem, and those desiring to change their personality (in bivariate associations). Among users, higher cognitive ability and education were associated with spending less time on self-help products. However, people did not differ in personality and well-being trajectories depending on self-help product use and usage intensity, raising questions about the effectiveness of such products for these outcomes.

Indexed as

PersonalityAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPersonal SatisfactionPsychological Well-BeingSelf ConceptSwitzerlandYoung AdultPersonal growthPersonality change goalsPersonality traitsSelf-help productsWell-being

Identifiers

PMID41673251

DOI10.1038/s41598-026-39468-6

PMCPMC12972062

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.