Investigation the Relationship between Big Five Personality Dimensions and Executive Functions via Structural Equation Model

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the link between five factor personality traits and executive functions.

Method: A total of 100 healthy participants, 59 female and 41 male, participated in the study. The data was analyzed performing Pearson moment correlation coefficients and Structural Equation Model (SEM).

Results: Three models were constituted and the first model revealed a significant relationship between personality characteristics and executive functions. The second and the third models indicated that personality-executive functions relations are based on the correlation between openness to experience and shifting executive function measured by Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Results indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between openness to experience and WCST perseverative scores. In addition, there was no correlation between openness to experience and fluid intelligence.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be suggested that high openness may be characterized by high perseverative thinking rather than intellect.