Personality‐cognition associations across the adult life span and potential moderators: Results from two cohorts

Abstract

Objective Personality and cognitive abilities have been previously linked. However, there are inconsistencies regarding whether this relationship varies as a function of age, and a lack of evidence on whether gender contributes to this relation, particularly across the adulthood. Therefore, this study investigated the association between personality and cognition across the adult life span, accounting for age and gender. Methods We examined the association between personality and cognition in two large samples (Sample 1: N = 422; Sample 2: N = 549) including young, middle‐aged and older adults. Participants completed personality scales and several cognitive measures related to reasoning, language, memory and speed of processing. Structural equation modeling was applied in order to investigate associations between personality and cognition, and moderation of age and gender within this relationship. We also conducted a mini‐meta‐analysis procedure in order to examine personality‐cognition associations, combining results from the two samples. Results Openness was the main trait associated with cognitive performance; however, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Neuroticism were also independently associated with cognition. Age and gender did not consistently moderate personality‐cognition in each sample, but the mini‐metanalysis showed that gender moderated Conscientiousness‐cognition associations. Conclusions We provided robust evidence of personality‐cognition associations across the adult life span, which was not consistently moderated by age, but in part by gender.

The influence of individual characteristics on perceived restorativeness and benefits associated with exposure to nature in a garden

“…We also expected that affective benefits to positively correlate with personality disposition of extraversion, while limited association with neuroticism or psychoticism might emerged (Johnsen, 2013;Felsten, 2014;Subiza-Pérez et al, 2021). Given the weak and heterogeneous relationships between personality and cognition (Simon et al, 2020), we expected a modest contribution of personality to performance in the cognitive tasks presented here.…”

Network analysis of the associations between personality traits, cognitive functioning, and inflammatory markers in elderly individuals without dementia

“…Similarly, a correlation between higher Conscientiousness and better cognitive performance has been found (Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011;Graham and Lachman, 2014;Simon et al, 2020). In contrast, Extraversion has been negatively associated with several cognitive abilities (Austin et al, 2002;Baker and Bichsel, 2006;Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011;Graham and Lachman, 2014;Simon et al, 2020). Several studies revealed a negative association between Neuroticism and general cognitive functioning (Jorm et al, 1993;Austin et al, 2002;Boyle et al, 2010), executive functions (Booth et al, 2006;Williams et al, 2010), and episodic memory (Jorm et al, 1993;Meier et al, 2002;Aiken-Morgan et al, 2012), while others did not (Jelicic et al, 2002;Baker and Bichsel, 2006).…”

“…Personality dimensions are often assessed according to the five-factor model ( McCrae and Costa, 1987 ), including Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Numerous cross-sectional studies carried out in healthy middle-aged and elderly people revealed that individuals with higher levels of Openness tend to perform better in several cognitive domains, such as general cognitive ability ( Austin et al, 2002 ; Booth et al, 2006 ; Simon et al, 2020 ), reasoning ( Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011 ; Simon et al, 2020 ), and episodic memory ( Booth et al, 2006 ; Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011 ; Aiken-Morgan et al, 2012 ). Similarly, a correlation between higher Conscientiousness and better cognitive performance has been found ( Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011 ; Graham and Lachman, 2014 ; Simon et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Numerous cross-sectional studies carried out in healthy middle-aged and elderly people revealed that individuals with higher levels of Openness tend to perform better in several cognitive domains, such as general cognitive ability ( Austin et al, 2002 ; Booth et al, 2006 ; Simon et al, 2020 ), reasoning ( Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011 ; Simon et al, 2020 ), and episodic memory ( Booth et al, 2006 ; Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011 ; Aiken-Morgan et al, 2012 ). Similarly, a correlation between higher Conscientiousness and better cognitive performance has been found ( Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011 ; Graham and Lachman, 2014 ; Simon et al, 2020 ). In contrast, Extraversion has been negatively associated with several cognitive abilities ( Austin et al, 2002 ; Baker and Bichsel, 2006 ; Soubelet and Salthouse, 2011 ; Graham and Lachman, 2014 ; Simon et al, 2020 ).…”

Validated tests for language research with university students: Tests of vocabulary, general knowledge, author recognition, reading comprehension, reading frequency, attention check

“…Finally, vocabulary size is correlated with the Big Five personality trait Openness to experience (r  .2), as shown in Figure 1. This figure presents a meta-analysis of the 15 studies we could find relating vocabulary size to Big Five personality traits (Dollinger et al, 2008;Downey et al, 2011;Friborg et al, 2005;Furnham, 2005;Gnambs, 2017;Gorgol et al, 2020;McCrae & Costa, 1985;McIntyre, 2010;Nathanson et al, 2006;Ono et al, 2011;Peterson et al, 2002;Simon et al, 2021;Uttl et al, 2013). We included a 60-item Big Five questionnaire (Soto & John, 2017) to verify whether the correlation would also be present in the sample we tested.…”