Neuroticism Mediates the Relationship Between Industrial History and Modern-Day Regional Obesity Levels

Michael Daly, Martin Obschonka, Michael Stuetzer, Angelina Sutin, Leigh Shaw-Taylor, Max Satchell and Eric Robinson

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Objective: The historical factors and contemporary mechanisms underlying geographical inequalities in obesity levels remain uncertain. In this study we examine whether modern regional variation in obesity is partly a result of the impact of large-scale industry on the personality traits of those living in regions once at the center of the Industrial Revolution. Method: Exposure to the effects of the Industrial Revolution was assessed using unique historical data from English/Welsh counties (N=111). Specifically, we examined the relationship between the regional employment share in large-scale coal-based industries in 1813-1820 and contemporary regional obesity levels (2013-2015). The Big Five personality traits and regional unemployment levels were examined as potential mediators of this association. Results: The historical regional employment share in large-scale industries positively predicted the modern-day regional prevalence of obesity. Mediation analysis showed that areas exposed to the decline of large-scale industries experienced elevated neuroticism and unemployment levels that explained almost half of the association between the historical dominance of large-scale industry and modern-day obesity levels. Conclusions: Our results provide initial evidence that raised regional neuroticism levels may play a key role in explaining why exposure to the rapid growth and subsequent decline of large-scale industries forecasts modern-day obesity levels.

Keywords: Social deprivation; personality; obesity; industrialization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 L16 N1 N9 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-10-19, Revised 2020-07-23
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-his and nep-ure
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Published in Journal of Personality 2.89(2021): pp. 267-287

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