Neuroticism, urbanization, and the state prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in the USA

Abstract

This study was conducted primarily to determine whether state prevalence rates of Parkinson’s disease (PD) among Medicare beneficiaries 65 and over are associated with U.S. state resident standing on the Big Five personality dimensions. Key variables for the 50 states were PD prevalence rates in 2014, Big Five scores based on 619,397 survey respondents, socioeconomic status (SES), White population percent, urban population percent, health environment, and overall health outcomes. A sequential multiple regression equation with the SES, White, and urbanization variables selected stepwise and followed by the Big Five selected stepwise showed state PD prevalence rate variance was significantly accounted for by urbanization (16.9 %, β = 0.53) and neuroticism (32.8 %, β = 0.59). This prediction pattern persisted in another equation when state health environment and health outcomes served as additional controls, with neuroticism accounting for an additional 17.4 % of the variance. The only independent predictors in that equation also were urbanization (β = 0.57) and neuroticism (β = 0.48). Essentially similar results were found using simultaneous entry equations. Spatial analysis using Moran’s I test for residual spatial autocorrelation also showed that spatial autocorrelation was not an issue. The present results based on the geographical psychology perspective underline the importance of corroborating correlative patterns found in personality studies with individuals as the analytic units with research using aggregates of individuals as the units of analysis. It also is speculated that health policy and promotion managers eventually might profit from tailoring PD initiatives according to resident neuroticism levels and degree of urbanization.