Chunk #46 — CAUSAL LINKS BETWEEN NEUROTICISM AND ADVERSE OUTCOMES — Causal Links Between Neuroticism and Physical Health Problems — Neuroticism and Health-Risk Behaviors
A second hypothesized link between neuroticism and physical health is through behaviors that increase risk for health problems (Contrada et al., 1999;T. W. Smith & MacKenzie, 2006). Persons high in neuroticism are markedly more likely to smoke (Breslau, Novak, & Kessler, 2004; Malouff et al., 2006; Morissette, Tull, Gulliver, Kamholz, & Zimering, 2007; Terracciano & Costa, 2004) and to become dependent on alcohol and other drugs (Larkins & Sher, 2006). These behaviors robustly increase risk for cancer, asthma, emphysema, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases. In addition, persons high in neuroticism are much more likely to engage in unprotected sex, perhaps as a way to cope with aversive mood states or due to emotional impulsiveness or lack of assertiveness (Cooper, Agocha, & Sheldon, 2000; Trobst et al., 2000). Indeed, the odds of engaging in unprotected sex by individuals who are at least 1 standard deviation above the mean of neuroticism are 8–10 times greater than for individuals who are at least 1 standard deviation below the mean (Hoyle, Fejfar, & Miller, 2000). In turn, risky sexual behavior increases the odds for HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer, and other diseases.
