Key result
Big Five traits and stressful events independently predict depressive symptoms and health without interacting.
Why the study?
Theory suggests individuals with higher neuroticism have more severe negative reactions to stress, but empirical evidence on the interaction between neuroticism and stressors is mixed.
Do Big Five personality traits moderate the effects of stressful life events on health trajectories in older adults?
Population
14,418 older adults from the Health and Retirement Study who completed a Big Five personality measure
Comparison
Big Five personality traits and recent stressful life events across family, work/finances, home, and health domains
Design
Cohort study using latent growth curve models
Follow-up
10 years
Authors
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Independent associations should not yet alter geriatric risk assessment; leaves open whether personality-targeted interventions add value beyond stress reduction.
Cohort (n=14,418)
Do Big Five personality traits moderate the effects of stressful life events on health trajectories in older adults?
Personality traits and stressful life events independently predict health outcomes in older adults, but personality does not appear to moderate the long-term impact of major stressors.
Mitchell et al. (2020) reported a cohort. Big Five personality traits and stressful life events was evaluated on Trajectories of change in depressive symptoms, self-rated physical health, and C-reactive protein levels. Big Five personality traits and stressful life events independently predicted depressive symptoms and self-rated health, but personality did not moderate the effects of stressful events.
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