The personality-intelligence interface: insights from an ageing cohort

Recent attempts have been made to provide a theoretical model that accounts for the findings linking intelligence and personality, and it has been suggested longitudinal research is necessary to empirically evaluate this (Chamorro-Premuzic & Furnham, 2004). The current study uses longitudinally collected data on almost 500 people to investigate the link between intelligence (assessed in the same individuals at ages 11 and 79) and the non-cognitive traits of typical intellectual engagement (TIE) and Big-Five personality (measured in late adulthood). Intelligence in childhood and late adulthood was significantly related to the personality factors Emotional Stability and Intellect (r = 0.11-0.32, p < 0.05). When initial ability (age-11 IQ) was controlled for, the association of age-79 IQ and Intellect fell to almost zero (r = 0.02, ns), whereas the significant Emotional Stability correlation was largely unaffected. TIE associated with IQ at both ages (age-11 r = 0.21 and age-79 r = 0.13, p < 0.01); however, controlling for prior ability removed the TIE and age 79-IQ association (r = -0.01, ns). Structural equation modelling of these data suggested no direct link between contemporaneous Intellect, TIE and late adulthood ability, indicating that they are related through the lifelong stable trait of intelligence. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.