INTELLIGENCE AND TEMPERAMENT AS PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR MENTAL-HEALTH - A CROSS-SECTIONAL AND PROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY

The Sjobring system of personality dimensions measuring intellectual c apacity, activity, impulsivity and sociability was used to study possi ble ''salutogenic'' (i.e. causes of health) effects. The study compris ed 590 subjects investigated in 1947, 1957, 1972 and 1988-1989 in the Lundby project, an epidemiological study in Sweden. Psychiatric diagno ses were made in 1947, 1957 and 1972. Mental health was estimated in 1 988-1989 using the concept ''love well, work well, play well and expec t well'' The Sjobring dimensions were clinically assessed in 1972. Bot h in the concurrent study in 1972 and in the prospective study in 1988 -1989 ''super capacity'' (high intellectual function), ''super validit y'' (high activity level) and ''super solidity'' (low impulsivity) wer e statistically associated with lower frequencies of certain psychiatr ic diagnoses and a higher frequency of positive mental health. These v ariables are proposed to increase coping capacity, and therefore incre ase stress resilience.