Neuroticism, life events and mental health: evidence for person-environment correlation

Background There is some evidence that genetic effects on the likelihood of experiencing stressful life events (SLEs) are mediated by heritable traits such as cognitive ability (CA) and neuroticism (N). Aims To examine whether the association between CA. N and mental ill-health is driven in part by a predisposition to experience depressogenic SLEs. Method Childhood measures of N and CA were available in a birth cohort of 5 362 individuals. At ages 36 and 43 years, mental state and occurrence of SL Es in the previous year were assessed. Using a path-analytic approach, mode ls with and without a hypothesised influence of N and CA on the occurrence of SLEs were compared. Results The fit of the model with childhood N having a direct influence on SLEs was good with chi(2)=5.72, d.f.=4, P=0.22 at age 36 years and chi(2)=3 .50, d.f.=5, P=0.62 at age 43. The fit of the model was significantly worse without this path at both ages (36 years: chi(2)=42.5, d.f.=1, P < 0.001; 43 years chi(2)=15.3, d.f.=1, P < 0.001). No consistent differences were se en in comparisons of models with CA. Conclusions The results are congruent with the suggestion that genetic effe cts on SLEs are mediated by personal characteristics. Part of the well-esta blished association between N and minor psychiatric disorder may be mediate d by an indirect effect of N on the likelihood of experiencing SLEs. Declaration of interest None.