title: Socioeconomic status moderates the association between John Henryism and NEO PI-R personality domains.
abstract: To investigate associations between John Henryism (JH) and NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (PI-R) personality domains. JH-a strong behavioral predisposition to engage in high-effort coping with difficult psychosocial and economic stressors-has been associated with poor health, particularly among persons in lower socioeconomic (SES) groups. Unfavorable personality profiles have also been frequently linked to poor health; however, no studies have yet examined what global personality traits characterize JH.
  
  
  
  Hypotheses were examined, using data from a sample of 233 community volunteers (mean age, 33 years; 61% black and 39% white) recruited specifically to represent the full range of the SES gradient. Personality (NEO PI-R) and active coping (12-item JH scale) measures and covariates were derived from baseline interviews.
  
  
  
  In a multiple regression analysis, independent of SES, JH was positively associated with Conscientiousness (C) (p < .001) and Extraversion (E) (p < .001), whereas the combination of low JH and high SES was associated with Neuroticism (N) (p = .02) When examining associations between JH and combinations of NEO PI-R domains called "styles," high JH was most strongly associated with a high E/high C "Go-Getters" style of activity, whereas low JH was associated with the low E/high Openness (O) "Introspectors" style. In facet level data, the most robust associations with JH were found for five C and five E facets.
  
  
  
  High JH was associated with higher scores on C and E, but the combination of low JH and high SES was associated with higher scores on N.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jonassaint
authors.forename: Redford B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Edward C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: Sherman A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data