Does your partner's personality affect your health? Actor and partner effects of the Big Five personality traits

Lynn Williams*, Sarah Ashford-Smith, Laura Cobban, Rebecca Fitzsimmons, Vedika Sukhatme, Simon Hunter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Big Five personality traits are powerful predictors of health and longevity. However, few studies have addressed partner effects of personality on health, whereby the personalities of people close to us affect our health. The current study examined the partner effects of Big Five traits on health behaviours, mood, and quality of life in romantic couples. Here, 182 romantic couples (N = 364 participants; Mage = 35.7 years) completed self-report measures of the Big Five (TIPI), health behaviours (GPHB), mood (DASS-21) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model and showed significant partner effects of conscientiousness on quality of life. No other partner effects of the Big Five were found. These findings suggest that there are specific, focussed associations between health and a romantic partner's personality.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)231-234
Number of pages4
JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
Volume149
Early online date15 Jun 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2019
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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