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Public Health

Modern health worries and personality

Profile image of Adrian FurnhamAdrian Furnham

2012, Personality and Mental Health

https://doi.org/10.1002/PMH.1187
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Abstract

Using self-report data, we investigated whether personality traits are associated with, or predictive of, modern health worries (MHWs), which are popular concerns that people have that their health is threatened by modernity. Three-hundred and one British participants completed a questionnaire that measured MHWs, the Big Five personality traits and personal demographics. Results showed that openness-to-experience and conscientiousness were significantly correlated with MHWs and were significant predictors of MHWs. Those with high scores on openness-to-experience and conscientiousness showed higher MHWs scores. Religiousness was also shown to be strongly related to MHWs. Surprisingly, there were few significant associations between MHWs and trait neuroticism. It is concluded that MHWs are moderately associated with personality traits. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

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