The interplay between personality and cognitive ability across 12 years in middle and late adulthood: Evidence for reciprocal associations.

Abstract

Research on relationships between personality and cognitive abilities has so far resulted in inconsistent findings regarding the strength of the associations. Moreover, relationships have rarely been compared longitudinally and bidirectionally between midlife versus late-life cohorts by considering different personality traits as well as multiple cognitive domains over a long-term follow-up period. We hypothesize that the interplay between the "Big Five" personality traits (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness) and cognitive abilities (information processing speed, crystallized intelligence, fluid intelligence) may change from midlife to old age due to age-associated changes in cognitive and personality plasticity. We used data from the German Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development (ILSE study; n = 1,002). Participants were either born in 1950/52 (midlife sample, n = 502) or in 1930/32 (late-life sample, n = 500) and followed up for up to 12 years. Based on bivariate latent change score regression models (adjusted for gender, education, self-rated and physician-rated health), we observed that, apart from very few exceptions, the intervariable cross-lagged associations between personality traits and cognitive abilities were generally similar between cohorts. Moreover, in case of neuroticism, extraversion, and openness, the effects of cognitive abilities on change in personality were stronger than the reversed effects. Our findings thus suggest that the so far predominant perspective of personality in middle adulthood and late-life as a predictor, rather than as an outcome, of cognitive abilities needs more differentiation and reconsideration. (PsycINFO Database Record

Physical activity and personality development over twenty years: Evidence from three longitudinal samples

“…Such outcomes, in turn, may have a long-term impact on personality, such as reductions in the tendency to be self-disciplined and organized or to be exploratory and curious. Indeed, cognitive decline, greater frailty, and more depressive symptoms and disease burden have been associated with reduced conscientiousness and openness over time (Hakulinen et al, 2015; Mõttus, Johnson, Starr, & Deary, 2012; Stephan et al, 2017 ; Sutin et al, 2013; Wettstein et al, 2017). …”

“…Indeed, higher disease burden, biological dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and worsening cognition are related to higher neuroticism, and lower extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness over time (Hakulinen et al, 2015; Jokela, Hakulinen, Singh-Manoux, & Kivimaki, 2014; Stephan, Sutin, Luchetti, & Terracciano, 2016; Wettstein et al, 2017). Worsening functional status, such as higher frailty over time is also related to maladaptive personality changes (Stephan, Sutin, Canada, & Terracciano, 2017).…”

“…For example, lower physical activity at midlife has been associated with worsening executive function and memory twenty years later (Chang et al, 2010), higher depressive symptoms (Pereira et al, 2014), lower physical function (Chang et al, 2016; Salvela et al, 2013), and incident cardiovascular and respiratory diseases almost two decades later (Salvela et al, 2010). Given that health-related factors and cognitive functioning are associated with personality changes (Sutin et al, 2013; Wettstein et al, 2017), there are reasons to expect that the level of physical activity may be related to long-term personality development.…”

Personality, confirmation bias, and forensic interviewing performance

“…Openness in particular, but also neuroticism and conscientiousness, represent the personality traits most closely related to cognitive abilities (Wettstein, Tauber, Kuźma, & Wahl, 2017). Higher conscientiousness may be related to cognitive functioning through favorable health‐related behaviors and stronger adherence to cognitively stimulating activities (Wettstein et al, 2017).…”

“…Openness in particular, but also neuroticism and conscientiousness, represent the personality traits most closely related to cognitive abilities (Wettstein, Tauber, Kuźma, & Wahl, 2017). Higher conscientiousness may be related to cognitive functioning through favorable health‐related behaviors and stronger adherence to cognitively stimulating activities (Wettstein et al, 2017). Neuroticism, which is characterized by higher negative affectivity, general stress proneness, and less efficient stress coping strategies, seems to exacerbate the well‐known detrimental effect of stress on cognitive functioning (Neupert, Mroczek, & Spiro, 2008), although this relationship appears to be mediated by test anxiety (Moutafi, Furnham, & Tsaousis, 2006).…”