Individuals with the combination of high Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness – the undercontrolled style – appear to be the most vulnerable to developing depression. Individuals characterized by the undercontrolled style often find it difficult to control their impulses(37), even when they know their actions are incongruent with their long-term interests.(33) In the present research, this dispositional difficulty with impulse control was associated with the development of both major and minor depression, perhaps because these individuals are particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of poor self-management of health concerns. Neuroticism has long been identified as a risk-factor for depression; low Conscientiousness may augment that risk, high Conscientiousness may mitigate it.
