Chunk #36 — CAUSAL LINKS BETWEEN NEUROTICISM AND ADVERSE OUTCOMES — Causal Links Between Neuroticism and Mental Disorders — 2. Neuroticism, stressful events, and social support
To consider just one specific example of neuroticism influencing risk for negative life events, a number of longitudinal studies have shown that the neuroticism scores of both partners measured before marriage predict future separation or divorce (Donnellan, Conger, & Bryant, 2004; Karney & Bradbury, 1997; Kelly & Conley, 1987; Roberts et al., 2007; Rogge, Bradbury, Hahlweg, Engl, & Thurmaier, 2006; Tucker, Kressin, Spiro, & Ruscio, 1998). Because other longitudinal studies have shown that divorce predicts mental health problems, substance abuse, and mortality (Hemström, 1996; Ikeda et al., 2007;C. Lee & Gramotnev, 2007; S. Lee et al., 2005; Overbeek et al., 2006; Perreira & Sloan, 2001), it is reasonable to hypothesize that neuroticism indirectly promotes adverse outcomes partly by increasing the likelihood of divorce.
