The effects of neuroticism and extraversion on self-assessed health and health-relevant cognition

Previous research suggests that personality traits are related to poorer self-assessed health (SAH) and other health-relevant cognition. In the current study, the effects of neuroticism (N), extraversion (E) and their interaction on a variety of SAH and health cognition variables were examined in 66 male and 69 female participants. Previous relations between N, SAH, and self-reported health behavior were replicated and extended. N was also found to predict poorer health behavior self-efficacy, particularly in the presence of low E. E was positively related to health behavior, health behavior outcome expectancies and likelihood estimates for positive health outcomes. There was a curvilinear effect of E on SAH, such that E was related to higher symptom reports and poorer global health ratings only among individuals high in E. The findings suggest that N and E are reliable predictors of health-relevant cognition. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.