Factors Influencing Adult Physical Health after Controlling for Current Health Conditions: Evidence from a British Cohort

Helen Cheng,Adrian Furnham,Sonia Brucki

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066204

Abstract

This study explored a longitudinal data set of 6875 British adults examining the effects of parental social status (measured at birth), cognitive ability (at age 11 yrs), personality traits, education and occupational attainment on physical health and functioning (all measured at age 50 yrs), after taking account of current health conditions (number of illness). Correlation analysis showed that parental social class, childhood cognitive ability, education and occupation, and two personality traits (Emotional Stability/Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness) were all significantly associated with adult physical health variables. Structural equation modelling showed that health conditions and personality traits were significantly, and inversely, associated with physical health (indicated by good daily physical functioning, relative absence of pain, perceived health, and low level of limitations at work due to physical health). Parental social status, childhood intelligence, educational and occupational attainment were all modestly, but significantly and directly, associated with adult physical health. The effect of childhood intelligence on adult physical health was, in part, mediated through Emotional Stability and Conscientiousness. After controlling for health conditions Emotional Stability was the strongest predictor of physical health. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Highlights

Physical health and functioning affects all aspects of human activities such as work obligations, family roles, social activities and engagement, as well as psychological health and well-being
This study is among the first longitudinal, population based research, to explore the associations between personality traits and physical health, taking into account the effects of parental social status, childhood intelligence, educational and occupational attainment, and current health conditions
What is new about this study can be seen in the difference between figures 1 and 2 where we show that two personality traits can account for an additional 18% in the explained variance

Summary

Introduction

Physical health and functioning affects all aspects of human activities such as work obligations, family roles, social activities and engagement, as well as psychological health and well-being. The determinants of health are manifold: socioeconomic, educational, genetic, psychological, and environmental. This study examined the effects of parental socioeconomic status, childhood intelligence, two personality traits, education, occupation and current health on four facets of physical health. People from lower socioeconomic status groups have worse physical (and mental) health than those above them 6. Mental health and physical health are correlated and chronic diseases and mortality rates are higher among patients with mental health disorders than in the general population [7,8,9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion