Personality and health: The mediating role of Trait Emotional Intelligence and Work Locus of Control

Research has started to examine mediators between personality traits and health. The current research aims to investigate the roles of Trait Emotional Intelligence (Trait EI) and Work Locus of Control (WLC) as mediators of the paths between the Big Five personality traits and General Health in a sample of 328 university students (160 male). Structural Equation Modelling and mediation analyses, demonstrated as hypothesised, that Trait EI and WLC mediated the paths between personality and health. Direct effects on health were observed for Trait EI, WLC, Emotional Stability and to a lesser extent Openness to Experience. The study provides further evidence for the role of mediating variables in the path between personality traits and health.