Predicting health from self and partner personality

- Associations between self and partner personality and health were examined.
- Each of the Big Five showed significant actor affects.
- Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness were related to partner personality.
- These associations did not differ by gender.

The prediction of general health has been a consistent goal for personality researchers. Past research has found that healthier individuals tend to be less Neurotic, and higher in Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness. Less studied has been the possibility of interpersonal associations between one's own personality and the health of a close other. The present study utilized the British House Panel Survey (N = 3175 couples) to examine both actor and partner effects of personality on health. Supporting previous research, individuals who reported less Neuroticism and higher Conscientiousness and Extraversion also reported greater health. Partner effects were less prevalent and only present for Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness. The magnitude of actor and partner effects did not differ between males and females. The present results suggest that an interpersonal account of traits is needed to understand the relationship between personality and health.