Openness moderates the relationship between modern health worries and neuroticism

• Results revealed that neuroticism is weakly related to modern health worries.
• Openness moderates the relationship between modern health worries and neuroticism.
• The neuroticism and modern health worries association exists only in low openness.

Modern health worries (MHW) has been reported to covary, albeit inconsistently, with measures tapping a tendency for emotional lability. We aim to address this inconsistency, in part, by investigating the moderating influence of openness on the previously reported correlation of MHW with neuroticism. One hundred and forty-three participants completed questionnaires assessing neuroticism, openness and MHW. Results show that neuroticism is weakly related to MHW, and this relationship only was found for low openness participants. Future research examining the associations of MHW, emotional lability and well-being may benefit by incorporating openness.