Predictability of levels of physical and mental health: a 2 year longitudinal study

To identify the social, family, personality traits and health locus of control factors which influence physical and mental health, consumption of medications, and frequency of medical consultations.

Twenty participants were included in a two years long longitudinal study. At baseline, the participants' age, gender, family composition, net income, chronic treatments, family dynamics (Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scale), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, and personality (NEO Personality Inventory) were recorded. Every six months their state of mental and physical health (12 Survey Factors and Hamilton Depression Scale), consumption of medications, and number of medical consultations were reassessed.

Regarding mental, and physical health, and scores on the Hamilton Depression Scale we can explain 50% of the variance, of which 25% accounts for age or for the number of persons living together, 15% accounts for the cohesion of the actual couple or nuclear family and 10% on account for neuroticism or on the Internal HLC. With regard to the number of medications and consultations only 30% of the variance is accounted for: 10% for gender, 10% for the cohesion of the ideal family and 10% for neuroticism or extraversion.

These results can obviously be used in the field of secondary prevention, for example in raising GPs' awareness to the typical profile of patients who are at risk of mental or physical health problems. Ideally these results should also serve for primary prevention, but how can we influence demographic variables, family cohesion or personality?