THE 5-FACTOR MODEL OF PERSONALITY AS A FRAMEWORK FOR PERSONALITY-HEALTH RESEARCH

The NEO Five Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 19 89) and representative personality scales drawn from health psychology were administered to 2 samples of male military recruits (Ns = 296 an d 502). Factor analysis of health-related personality scales revealed 3 conceptually meaningful domains. Examination of these domains and th eir constituent scales, with reference to the 5-factor model of person ality, permits 3 general conclusions. First, most health-relevant dime nsions and scales appear to be complex mixtures of broad personality d omains. Second, variation in many health-related personality instrumen ts is explained to a significant degree by the 5-factor model. Third, 2 of the 5 personality domains (i.e., conscientiousness and openness) appear to be substantially neglected in health psychology research.