The influence of neuroticism on concurrent symptom reporting: A multilevel modelling approach

The current study explored the influence of neuroticism on the diurnal pattern of symptom reporting. Participants were 548 individuals from 169 families. Using a computer-assisted self-monitoring procedure, individuals reported their concurrent somatic symptoms six times per day for seven consecutive days. Neuroticism was assessed separately in a follow-up questionnaire. We used a generalized linear models approach for multilevel-analysis, and analysed a four level model with observations within days, days within individuals, and individuals within families. Results show no main effect for neuroticism, but an interaction of neuroticism with time of the observation. Individuals average in neuroticism show a curvilinear pattern with increased symptom reporting in the morning and in the evening, and less during the day. Individuals with low levels of neuroticism show a similar but more attenuated pattern. Individuals high in neuroticism, however, show a constant level of symptom reporting throughout the day, with no decrease in the middle of the day. These findings suggest that neuroticism results not so much in exaggerated symptom reporting but in a different diurnal pattern of concurrent symptom reporting.