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Integrating Personality and Relationship Science to Explain Physical and Mental Health

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Personality and Healthy Aging in Adulthood

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on Aging ((Int. Perspect. Aging,volume 26))

Abstract

The aim of the current chapter is to discuss how personality and relationship processes (i.e., relationship experiences and outcomes) may interact to influence physical and mental health across the lifespan. We begin with a discussion of how our romantic relationships contribute to our health and how two prominent personality theories (i.e., attachment theory and the Big Five model) can be used to predict some of the relationship outcomes and behaviours that are important in this connection. Next, we showcase some of the prominent models enabling researchers to characterize how personality and relationship factors can work together to influence health. We close with a discussion of future directions that will help to guide researchers who hope to examine the combined impact that personality and relationships have on health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Hannah Brazeau

  2. Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    William J. Chopik

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  1. Hannah Brazeau
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Correspondence to Hannah Brazeau .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA

    Patrick L. Hill

  2. Department of Psychology and University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Mathias Allemand

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Brazeau, H., Chopik, W.J. (2020). Integrating Personality and Relationship Science to Explain Physical and Mental Health. In: Hill, P.L., Allemand, M. (eds) Personality and Healthy Aging in Adulthood. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 26. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32053-9_2

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