Life events, fitness, hardiness, and health: a simultaneous analysis of proposed stress-resistance effects

Factors associated with life control in young men

This paper reviews life control and relating factors in young men on the basis of information which was gathered from questionnaires. The information shows that factors such as self-evaluated state of health, health behaviour, stress, economical situation and education are connected with life control. It was not possible to make conclusions concerning causality; with most of the variables, the connection worked both ways. Self-evaluated state of health was the most important factor relating to life control. Consideration has to be given to whether it is worthwhile trying to influence particular habits through health education. Future studies might concentrate on factors influencing the ability of individuals to control their lives and to reach reasonable decisions concerning their health and lives.

Personality and health: advantages and limitations of the five-factor model

Interest in the association between personality characteristics and physical health has been renewed in recent years. Theory and research in this area has also been complicated by conceptual and methodological limitations. The present article briefly reviews this literature and discusses the advantages and limitations of the five-factor model of personality as an integrating framework for studies of personality and health. The model has already been fruitfully applied in several contexts, and more possibilities exist. Although it has some potential limitations, the application of the five-factor model--as well as other aspects of current personality theory and research--is likely to facilitate progress in the study of how personality influences health.