Experimental Evidence (Individual Differences and Health)

Question 1

Friedman et al, 1993 - Conscientiousness and life expectancy

Answer 1

Those high in conscientiousness (Five-factor personality model) more likely to live longer

Question 2

Wilson et al, 2007 (Religious orders study) - conscientiousness and Alzheimer’s

Answer 2

High conscientiousness amongst Nuns, Priests and Brothers associated with reduced risk of alzheimer’s

Question 3

Costa and McRae, 1987 - neuroticism and symptoms

Answer 3

Those high in neuroticism report more symptoms but do not actually have more

Question 4

Vollrath and Torgesen, 2002 - Extra/introversion + conscientiousness + Neuroticism and health risk behaviour

Answer 4

High conscientiousness and low extraversion result in decreased health risk behaviour (e.g. smoking, excessive drinking). Whereas high neuroticism has increased risky behaviour

Question 5

Eysenck and Eysenck, 1985 - extraversion and illness

Answer 5

Suggests high extraversion results in less illness due to the alleviation of stress

Question 6

Miller et al, 1996 - hostility and CHD

Answer 6

Found hostility to be a predictor of CHD

Question 7

Edinburgh Artery Study - hostility/submissiveness and heart disease

Answer 7

Found increased hostility linked to peripheral heart disease.
Submissiveness was protective against non-fatal heart attacks

Question 8

Denollet et al, 2000 - distressed personality type and heart attacks

Answer 8

Found distressed personality types are 4 times as likely to have a heart attack

Question 9

Denollet, 1996 - death rate and ambition

Answer 9

Rate of death higher in those with high negative affectivity (negative emotions) and high social ambition

Question 10

Kohut et al, 2005 - coherence and health

Answer 10

Having a greater sense of coherence is linked with better health, well-being and low stress.

Question 11

Maruta et al, 2000 - optimism and health

Answer 11

optimists have better survival rates