A 1-SD increase in General Activity, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness was associated with a 13%, 15%, and 27% reduced risk of death, respectively, over an average 18-year follow-up.
Cohort (n=2,359)
Do specific personality traits (activity, emotional stability, conscientiousness) improve longevity in generally healthy individuals?
Higher levels of general activity, emotional stability, and conscientiousness are associated with a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality over a five-decade follow-up.
Effect estimate: 13%, 15%, and 27% risk reduction per 1-SD increase
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between personality traits and longevity. METHODS: Using the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, personality traits were assessed in 2359 participants (38% women; age = 17 to 98 years, mean = 50 years) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, starting in 1958. Over the duration of the study, 943 (40%) participants died, on average 18 years after their personality assessment. The association of each trait with longevity was examined by Cox regression controlling for demographic variables. RESULTS: In preliminary analyses among the deceased, those who scored 1 standard deviation (SD) above the mean on General Activity (a facet of Extraversion), Emotional Stability (low Neuroticism), or Conscientiousness lived on average 2 to 3 years longer than those scoring 1 SD below the mean. Survival analyses on the full sample confirmed the association of General Activity, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness with lower risk of death, such that every 1-SD increase was related to about 13%, 15%, and 27% risk reduction, respectively. The association of personality traits with longevity was largely independent from the influence of smoking and obesity. Personality predictors of longevity did not differ by sex, except for Ascendance (a facet of Extraversion). Emotional Stability was a significant predictor when the analyses were limited to deaths due to cardiovascular disease, with comparable effect sizes for General Activity and Conscientiousness. CONCLUSIONS: In a large sample of generally healthy individuals followed for almost five decades, longevity was associated with being conscientious, emotionally stable, and active.
Terracciano et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Generally healthy individuals (n=2,359). Higher scores in General Activity, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness vs. Lower scores (1 SD below the mean) was evaluated on Risk of death (13%, 15%, and 27% risk reduction per 1-SD increase). A 1-SD increase in General Activity, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness was associated with a 13%, 15%, and 27% reduced risk of death, respectively, over an average 18-year follow-up.