(Un)Healthy Neuroticism and Eating Behaviors: A Study of the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research - Rockland Sample

Abstract Trait neuroticism is associated with maladaptive behaviors and mortality risk. However, high levels of both neuroticism and conscientiousness (i.e., healthy neuroticism) are associated with various positive health behaviors. Eating behavior is a modifiable risk factor for obesity and metabolic diseases. This study investigates the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between healthy neuroticism and eating behaviors. Data from the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research - Rockland Sample included 712 adults with complete assessments of personality, eating behaviors, and clinical metabolic markers. Linear and mixed linear regression models examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of eating behaviors and personality, adjusting for socio-demographics (age, sex, education), sleep quality, body mass index (BMI), and metabolic markers. Healthy neuroticism predicted disinhibition and hunger dimensions of eating behavior cross-sectionally, a result that withstood the inclusion of disease burden and clinical metabolic markers. Longitudinally, healthy neuroticism didn't predict changes in eating behavior. Greater conscientiousness scores were associated with increase in restraint, and greater hunger scores with increase neuroticism over time. These findings provide the first evidence that neuroticism is associated with less maladaptive eating behavior tendencies when modulated by conscientiousness. The implications of these associations for potential bidirectional relationships between eating behavior, metabolic health, and personality are discussed.