Adventurousness cuts both ways: a Mendelian randomization of adventurousness on 10 cognitive and behavioral traits
Adams, C. D.; Boutwell, B. B.
Show abstract
Adventurousness is speculated to improve happiness but also predispose to risky behaviors. Since non-experimental studies can suffer from confounding and reverse causation, and personality traits cannot be randomized, it is challenging to unravel how adventurousness impacts the mind and behavior. Mendelian randomization (MR), a quasi-randomization technique that uses genetic variants as instruments to avoid confounding and reverse causation, is an attractive option in this setting. We used MR to explore self-reported adventurousness and 10 cognitive and behavioral traits. Adventurousness decreased neuroticism and mood swings and increased years of schooling. In contrast, it also predisposed to risky behaviors (increasing the number of lifetime sexual partners, the propensity to speed in an automobile, and lifetime smoking, and decreasing the age of first having sexual intercourse). The results suggest being adventurous "cuts both ways", evincing bivalent influences and underscoring the reality that trade-offs often accompany many human personality constructs.
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