The PERCIVAL (PERsonality and CIVic engagement across the Adult Lifespan) project was a multi-year panel study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and conducted at the University of Zurich. Across five survey waves, researchers collected data to analyze how personality traits correlate with civic engagement behaviors, such as volunteering, voting, and blood donation, across different demographic groups. By tracking individuals over time, the study aimed to identify stable patterns, developmental
trends, and changes influenced by life circumstances, aging, and broader sociopolitical shifts. Designed to be nationally representative, PERCIVAL included participants from Switzerland’s three main linguistic regions—German-, French-, and Italian-speaking areas. While prior research suggested that personality traits like extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness promote engagement, most studies relied on cross-sectional or international data. PERCIVAL’s longitudinal design addressed this limitation by providing Swiss-specific insights into short-term variations and long-term trajectories. Beyond personality and civic engagement, PERCIVAL gathered psychological, behavioral, and sociodemographic data. Each wave included well-being and self-esteem measures, while cognitive ability and life events were assessed in two waves. The study also examined personality change goals and self-help literature use, providing insights into individuals’ efforts to shape their own personality development.
