Conscientiousness facets and health behaviors: A latent variable modeling approach

Conscientiousness is a predictor of several health behaviors, but the contribution of its facets is not yet known. Partial correlation and multiple regression have been utilized in previous studies, but a third approach is possible. Latent variable modeling combines the advantages of both these methods. Data from 345 healthy adults living in the UK enrolled in a longitudinal study of Internet users were used to illustrate this. Conscientiousness was extracted as a latent variable defined by its six facets. Health behaviors were modeled as a latent variable, defined by the Wellness Behaviors, Accident Control and Traffic Risk sub-scales of the Health Behavior Marker Scales (HBMS, Vickers, Conway & Hervig, 1990). Given that the Self-discipline facet has been previously shown to contribute uniquely to health criteria, a direct pathway was modeled from Self-discipline to the HBMS (ß = .27). In addition to illustrating a ‘third approach’ to modeling facets, this study replicates and extends prior research by examining the associations between Conscientiousness and the HBMS in an Internet sample. The results strengthen claims by several commentators that measuring and modeling personality facets can help increase our understanding of how personality traits influence health behaviors.