Activity mediates conscientiousness' relationship to diurnal cortisol slope in a national sample.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The present study explored pathways from the personality traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness through health-related behaviors to diurnal patterns of the stress hormone cortisol using data from a large national study.

Method

Using prospective data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS II) study and the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE II, a MIDUS substudy), hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) and Monte Carlo estimation for multilevel model mediation were used to test direct and indirect effects (via general activity level, moderate and vigorous physical activity, lifetime history of regular smoking, and alcohol consumption) of neuroticism and conscientiousness on cortisol at wakeup, diurnal cortisol slope, and cortisol awakening response (N =

SUBMITTER: Bogg T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4666824 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature