Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2012
Publication Title
Intelligence
Keywords
intelligence; neuroticism; epidemiology; Untied States
Disciplines
Cognitive Psychology | Psychology
Abstract
Current research shows that geo-political units (e.g., the 50 U.S. states) vary meaningfully on psychological dimensions like intelligence (IQ) and neuroticism (N). A new scientific discipline has also emerged, differential epidemiology, focused on how psychological variables affect health. We integrate these areas by reporting large correlations between aggregate-level IQ and N (measured for the 50 U.S. states) and state differences in rates of chronic disease (e.g., stroke, heart disease). Controlling for health-related behaviors (e.g., smoking, exercise) reduced but did not eliminate these effects. Strong relationships also existed between IQ, N, disease, and a host of other state-level variables (e.g., income, crime, education). The nexus of inter-correlated state variables could reflect a general fitness factor hypothesized by cognitive epidemiologists, although valid inferences about causality will require more research.`
Recommended Citation
Pesta, B.J., Bertsch, S., McDaniel, M.A., Mahoney, C.B., & Poznanski, P.J. (2012). Differential epidemiology: IQ, neuroticism, and chronic disease by the 50 U.S. states. Intelligence, 40, 107-114. doi:10.1016/j.intell.2012.01.011
DOI
10.1016/j.intell.2012.01.011
Version
Postprint
Publisher's Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Intelligence. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Intelligence, 40, 2, 03-01-2012, 10.1016/j.intell.2012.01.011.
Volume
40
Issue
2
