Unpacking the personality–cognitive ability link: A cross-national facet-level analysis of the Big Five

Background Numerous studies have demonstrated robust—albeit modest—associations between personality and cognitive ability, with a shared variance of 5–10%. Previous research has largely focused on global personality dimensions, such as the Big Five. Recent studies suggest that narrower personality facets may enhance our understanding of the personality–cognitive ability link. However, these studies typically rely on selective samples from single countries, limiting insights into populational and cross-cultural variation. Findings This study is the first to examine the associations between personality facets and cognitive ability using comprehensive, population-representative data from 11 countries. We investigated the relationships between 15 Big Five facets and cognitive ability by analyzing shared variance and bivariate associations. Three main findings emerged: (1) Personality facets account for approximately twice the variance in cognitive ability compared to broad personality domains. (2) Facets provide a more nuanced picture of the personality–cognitive ability link and reveal associations masked at the domain level. (3) Associations at the facet level differ across countries, with the strongest variation observed in facets of Openness. Conclusions Our findings underscore the added value of examining personality at the facet level. This more granular approach offers deeper insights into the interplay between personality and cognitive ability and highlights the importance of considering cultural variability in psychological research.