Department of Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2013 Jun 24;8(6):e66204. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066204. Print 2013.
This study explored a longitudinal data set of 6875 British adults examining the effects of parental social status (measured at birth), cognitive ability (at age 11 yrs), personality traits, education and occupational attainment on physical health and functioning (all measured at age 50 yrs), after taking account of current health conditions (number of illness). Correlation analysis showed that parental social class, childhood cognitive ability, education and occupation, and two personality traits (Emotional Stability/Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness) were all significantly associated with adult physical health variables. Structural equation modelling showed that health conditions and personality traits were significantly, and inversely, associated with physical health (indicated by good daily physical functioning, relative absence of pain, perceived health, and low level of limitations at work due to physical health). Parental social status, childhood intelligence, educational and occupational attainment were all modestly, but significantly and directly, associated with adult physical health. The effect of childhood intelligence on adult physical health was, in part, mediated through Emotional Stability and Conscientiousness. After controlling for health conditions Emotional Stability was the strongest predictor of physical health. Implications and limitations are discussed.
本研究探讨了一个包含 6875 名英国成年人的纵向数据集，考察了父母的社会地位（在出生时测量）、认知能力（在 11 岁时测量）、人格特质、教育和职业成就对身体健康和功能（均在 50 岁时测量）的影响，同时考虑了当前的健康状况（患病数量）。相关分析表明，父母的社会阶层、儿童时期的认知能力、教育和职业以及两个人格特质（情绪稳定性/神经质和尽责性）都与成年后的身体健康变量显著相关。结构方程模型显示，健康状况和人格特质与身体健康呈显著负相关（表现为日常身体功能良好、相对无疼痛、自我感知健康、因身体健康而导致工作受限程度低）。父母的社会地位、儿童时期的智力、教育和职业成就都与成年人的身体健康有一定程度的显著直接相关。儿童时期智力对成年人身体健康的影响部分通过情绪稳定性和尽责性来中介。在控制健康状况后，情绪稳定性是身体健康的最强预测因素。讨论了其意义和局限性。
