Individual differences and health

Question 1

Which two of the big five traits are most associated with health, and is it a positive or negative association?

Answer 1

• Conscientiousness (positive).
• Neuroticism (negative).

Question 2

Why is neuroticism associated with poor health? (2)

Answer 2

• Those with high neuroticism tend to perceive events as more stressful and may experience more prolonged psychological distress after an event.
• Neuroticism may influence an individual’s health behaviours (e.g. poorer diet, less exercise) and in this way impact on health outcomes.

Question 3

How is extraversion associated with health and why?

Answer 3

• Extraverts tend to have a positive psychological well-being and better physical health.
• May be due to experiencing lower stress and having more social support.

Question 4

How is conscientiousness associated with health and why?

Answer 4

• Those high in conscientiousness were more likely to live longer compared to those low in conscientiousness.
• Conscientious individuals are less likely to smoke or drink alcohol, and are more likely to follow medical advice.

Question 5

What effects does optimism have on health? (2)

Answer 5

• Reported less pain.
• Better physical functioning.

Question 6

List the four mechanisms of personality and disease.

Answer 6

1. Stress moderation model.
2. Constitutional vulnerability model.
3. Health behaviour model.
4. Illness behaviour model.

Question 7

Describe the health behaviour model. (2)

Answer 7

• Psychological factors that influence health behaviour are components of personality constructs: e.g. health beliefs and values.
• There is not a direct physiological pathway between personality and health.

Question 8

Describe the illness behaviour model.

Answer 8

Personality does not affect illness. It influences the subjective perception of health.

Question 9

What is cognitive epidemiology?

Answer 9

The field of research that examines the associations between intelligence and health.

Question 9

Why are studies in the field of cognitive epidemiology difficult? (2)

Answer 9

• They require enormous samples.
• They must be followed up over a long period of time.

Question 9

What did Whalley and Deary study?

Answer 9

If there was a relationship between childhood IQ and mortality.

Question 9

Describe Whalley and Deary’s study.

Answer 9

• Traced individuals who had taken the original Moray House Test to see how many had died 65 years later.
• Individuals who had died had a significantly lower IQ at 11 years old than individuals who were alive.

Question 10

What two studies assess the relationship between intelligence and health?

Answer 10

1. Whalley and Deary.
2. 1970 British birth cohort.

Question 11

Describe the 1970 British birth cohort. (3)

Answer 11

• All births during one week in 1970. 6 follow-up waves.
• Link between intelligence at age 11 and health behaviours at age 30.
• Advantage in intelligence was linked to greater likelihood of eating fresh fruit, taking regular exercise and decrease in likelihood of smoking.