However, the neurotics in the MIDUS database who also had conscientious personality traits — organized, hard-working, responsible and self-controlled — showed some interesting health advantages. Their levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a biomarker for chronic disease and inflammation, were significantly lower than the IL-6 levels found in other personality types.

The conscientious neurotics also had lower average BMI scores and were diagnosed with fewer overall chronic health conditions than other personality types. “… [W]hat we found was that when people are high both in neuroticism and conscientiousness, the conscientiousness buffers the negative effects of neuroticism,” Turiano said, according to Today.com.