High neuroticism was associated with a 33% increased risk of death, while high extraversion was associated with a 21% decreased risk of death in older adults over >6 years.
Cohort (n=6,158)
No
Do personality traits of neuroticism and extraversion affect the risk of death in older persons?
Higher extraversion and lower neuroticism are associated with reduced mortality risk in older adults, partially mediated by cognitive, social, and physical activity patterns.
Effect estimate: 33% increase in risk (neuroticism); 21% decrease in risk (extraversion)
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test the association of the personality traits of neuroticism and extraversion with risk of death in old age. METHODS: A census was taken of a geographically defined urban community in Chicago, and those aged 65 years or older were invited to participate in an in-home interview; 6158 (79% of those eligible) did so. The interview included brief measures of neuroticism and extraversion, medical history, and questions about current participation in cognitive, social, and physical activities. Vital status was subsequently monitored. The association of each trait with risk of death was examined in a series of accelerated failure-time models that controlled for age, sex, race, and education. RESULTS: During a mean of more than 6 years of observation, 2430 persons (39.5%) died. A high level of neuroticism (score = 27; 90th percentile) was associated with a 33% increase in risk of death compared with a low level of neuroticism (score = 9; 10th percentile). A high level of extraversion (score = 33; 90th percentile) was associated with a 21% decrease in risk of death compared with a low level (score = 18; 10th percentile). Adjustment for medical conditions and health-related variables did not substantially affect results, but adjusting for baseline levels of cognitive, social, and physical activity reduced the association of both traits with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that higher extraversion and lower neuroticism are associated with reduced risk of mortality in old age and that these associations are mediated in part by personality-related patterns of cognitive, social, and physical activity.
Wilson et al. (Tue,) reported a cohort. High neuroticism and high extraversion vs. Low neuroticism and low extraversion was evaluated on Risk of death (33% increase in risk (neuroticism); 21% decrease in risk (extraversion)). High neuroticism was associated with a 33% increased risk of death, while high extraversion was associated with a 21% decreased risk of death in older adults over >6 years.