Patient personality and mortality: a 4-year prospective examination of chronic renal insufficiency.
The present study examined the role of personality as a predictor of mortality among patients with chronic renal insufficiency. A prospective evaluation of the influence of personality on patient survival was conducted over an average 49-month period. Cox regression was used to evaluate the effects of 5 dimensions of personality in a sample of 174 patients (100 male and 74 female). At follow-up, 49 patients had died. Significant demographic and clinical predictors of survival included age, diabetic status, and hemoglobin level. After these predictors were controlled for, 2 personality traits, conscientiousness and neuroticism, predicted patient mortality. Patients with high neuroticism scores had a 37.5% higher estimated mortality rate. Patients with low conscientiousness scores had a 36.4% increased mortality rate.
Christensen
Alan J
AJ
Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. alan-christensen@uiowa.edu
Ehlers
Shawna L
SL
Wiebe
John S
JS
Moran
Patricia J
PJ
Raichle
Katherine
K
Ferneyhough
Karin
K
Lawton
William J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012803:Sick Role; D015996:Survival Rate