Broad and narrow personality traits in relation to cognitive ability in adolescents

This study examined the relationships between the (broad) Big Five traits and the narrow personality traits of Optimism and Work Drive in relation to cognitive ability in a US adolescent sample of 457 middle school and 375 high school students. All of the personality traits were significantly correlated with cognitive ability in both the middle and high school groups. Hierarchical multiple regression results revealed that Optimism added significantly to the prediction of cognitive ability beyond the Big Five traits. Separate regression analyses indicated that the Big Five contributed only minor variance to the prediction of cognitive ability beyond Optimism and Work Drive and, using a stepwise procedure, Optimism was the only significant predictor in the middle school sample, whereas Optimism and Openness were significant predictors in the high school sample. Results were interpreted in terms of broad versus narrow personality traits and linkages between personality and cognitive ability. Possible theoretical explanations were discussed, ranging from Spearman’s “mental vigor” hypothesis, to Eysenck’s cortical arousal concept, a “stimulation hypothesis”, and a conceptual model involving the interaction of student behavior, teacher behavior, and academic performance in school.