What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the long-term health effects of impulsive personality traits and family stresses on longevity.

January 1, 1995

Psychosocial and behavioral predictors of longevity: The aging and death of the "Termites."

Key Points

To examine the long-term health effects of impulsive personality traits and family stresses on longevity.
Archival prospective cohort study design following up on gifted children from the Terman study.
Collected and coded death certificates of deceased participants.
Utilized statistical survival analyses to assess impacts of childhood personality, adult relationships, and health behaviors on longevity.
Psychosocial factors significantly predicted premature mortality.
Higher impulsivity and major family stresses linked to increased mortality risk.
Childhood personality traits and adult adjustments were key predictors of longevity.

Abstract

Impulsive, undercontrolled personalities and major family stresses are known predictors of impaired adjustment, but long-term health effects are unclear. In an archival prospective cohort design, we followed up on L. M. Terman's (Terman & Oden, 1947) sample of gifted children by collecting and coding death certificates for the half of the sample that is now dead. Statistical survival analyses were used to predict longevity and cause of death as a function of parental divorce during childhood, unstable marriage patterns in adulthood, childhood personality, adult adjustment, and possible mediating health behaviors. Psychosocial factors emerged as important risks for premature mortality.

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