The Big Five Personality Factors as Predictors of Healthy Behavior Among University Students

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

The relationship between personality factors and healthy behavior has been studied - at a global level - in a large number of research. However, the Arabic studies are limited, especially in the Lebanese society.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality factors and healthy behavior among a sample of Beirut Arab University students (N = 350) who answered both the Arab Schedule of the Big Five Factors of Personality and the Healthy Behavior Scale. The two scales are characterized by acceptable to high validity and reliability coefficients. Results indicated that the mean score of female students was higher than do their male counterparts in the neuroticism factor (medium effect size) and the Agreeableness factor (small effect size). Pearson's correlation coefficients were statistically significant between the healthy behavior, and all personality factors except with the extraversion factor among male students. Two factors were extracted from the principal components analysis for both sexes, which were labeled: “Stable personality and healthy behavior”, and “Neuroticism versus extraversion and healthy behavior”. Regression analysis revealed that conscientiousness, openness, and low neuroticism were predictors of healthy behavior. Personality factors explained 19% of the variance in healthy behavior scores. It was concluded that there is a close relationship between healthy behavior and some personality factors. Hence, encouraging the practice of healthy behavior can improve some of the positive personality factors.

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