Personality as a predictor of hypochondriacal concerns: results from two longitudinal studies.
To explore the extent to which the domains of the Big 5 are risk factors for hypochondriacal concerns (HCs). Two longitudinal studies, one using blood donors (over a 16-17-month period) and one using undergraduate students (over a 2.5-month period), were used to collect data on the Big 5 and HCs. Univariate analyses indicated that: (1) emotional stability predicted future levels of HCs once baseline levels of HCs were controlled, and (2) reductions in HCs over time were predicted primarily by increases in conscientiousness and emotional stability scores. Structural modelling of cross-lagged effects indicated that emotional stability was related to future levels of hypochondriacal concerns by contributing to initial levels of HCs. Regression analysis indicated that those who become more conscientious become less health anxious. Emotional stability and conscientiousness have predictive roles with respect to HCs.