Personality and health, subjective well-being, and longevity

J Pers. 2010 Feb;78(1):179-216. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00613.x.

Abstract

Personality traits can be employed to guide understanding of trajectories to health and longevity, but long-term longitudinal study and multifaceted assessment of healthy aging are crucial. Following up on the life span study initiated by Lewis Terman, we assessed 4 validated factors of personality in young adulthood in 1940, constructed a multifactor measure of participants' healthy aging in 1986, and collected death certificates through 2007 (to determine longevity) on a sample of 1,312 Terman participants (732 men). Neuroticism predicted worse physical health and subjective well-being in old age and, for women, higher mortality risk, but for men, neuroticism predicted decreased mortality risk. For both sexes, extraversion predicted old-age social competence, whereas conscientiousness predicted men's old-age productivity. Differential patterns of association between personality traits and healthy aging components are informative about individual personality characteristics and long-term health outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / psychology
  • Attitude to Health
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Longevity*
  • Male
  • Neurotic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Neurotic Disorders / psychology
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality*
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Concept*
  • Sex Factors