| Abstract: | The relationship between neuroticism and cognitive functioning was investigated using data from a community survey of the elderly. Contrary to Pearson (1993, Personality and Individual Differences, 14, 265–266), neuroticism was related to poorer performance on a number of cognitive measures, but the pattern of correlations differed between men and women. For men there were correlations with a dementia screening test and with tests of episodic memory and fluid intelligence, while for women there were correlations with reaction time measures. It is hypothesized that correlations with neuroticism reflect the effect of chronic stress on cognitive ageing. |
