Personality, intelligence, and longevity: A cross-cultural perspective

Abstract

Cross-cultural information about national IQ, national personality, and longevity was obtained. Longevity was positively associated with neuroticism and national IQ and negatively associated with conscientiousness and agreeableness. The negative effects were mediated by income inequality: low conscientiousness and agreeableness were associated with high income inequality (strongly associated with poor longevity). The effect of national IQ on longevity remained strong when GDP percapita, income inequality, and individualism were partialed out. This effect probably occurs in part because countries with high national IQ have higher literacy rates and higher levels of health literacy.