Personality and complementary and alternative medicine as potential explanations of self-rated health: A longitudinal investigation

This study examined whether complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) mediates the relationship between personality traits and long-term self-rated health. Data came from Waves 2 and 3 of the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study. All five personality traits and CAM use were measured at Wave 2, and self-rated health was assessed 10 years later at Wave 3. A composite CAM score captured overall engagement in alternative health practices. Structural equation modeling using the lavaan package in R estimated direct and indirect effects. Openness to experience predicted greater CAM use, while neuroticism and conscientiousness were directly associated with poorer and better health outcomes, respectively. However, CAM use did not mediate the relationship between any personality trait and future health. These findings suggest that personality traits are associated with long-term self-rated health independently of CAM use, indicating that other behavioral or psychological pathways may better account for these relationships.