What Does Your Personality Say About Your Mortality Risk?

Joel Yager, MD

In a study of 76,000 individuals, only low conscientiousness in the “five factor” personality model predicted elevated mortality risk.

Researchers in numerous studies have attempted to link specific personality features with risk for early demise, but few have examined all major personality dimensions. These investigators used datasets from seven large, longitudinal, cohort studies that included baseline personality assessments based on the “five factor” model — extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.

During an average follow-up of about 6 years, 3947 deaths occurred among 76,150 adults (average baseline age, 51; 54% women). Analyses controlled for sex, age, ethnicity/nationality, education, marital status, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity. Of the personality traits, only low conscientiousness was independently associated with greater mortality risk. Conscientiousness scores that were 1 standard deviation below the mean were associated with a 14% increase in the risk for all-cause mortality. Individuals in the lowest tertile of conscientiousness had a 37% higher risk than those in the upper two. Baseline health behaviors and obesity accounted for about 20% of this association; education and marital status each attenuated the risk by less than 10%. No meaningful interaction effects with the other major personality traits were identified.

Citation(s):

Jokela M et al. Personality and all-cause mortality: Individual-participant meta-analysis of 3,947 deaths in 76,150 adults. Am J Epidemiol 2013 Aug 1.