title: Personality is associated with perceived health and functional status in older primary care patients.
abstract: Using data collected on 265 primary care medical patients 60 years of age and older, the authors examined the personality bases of subjective health (perceived health, functional status) after controlling for observer-rated depression and medical burden. Four hypotheses were tested: High Neuroticism is associated with poorer perceived health, low Extraversion is associated with poorer perceived health, low Openness to Experience is associated with worse functional status, and age moderates the relationships between personality and subjective health. Findings supported the notion that personality is associated with subjective health; moreover, this effect appeared to grow more pronounced with increasing age. This study underscores the conceptual and heuristic value of examining moderators of the links between personality variables and health.
authors.affiliation: U Rochester Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6882-0898
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Duberstein
authors.affiliation: U Rochester Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6102-1580
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sörensen
authors.affiliation: U Rochester Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lyness
authors.affiliation: U Rochester Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: U Rochester Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Yeates
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Conwell
authors.affiliation: U Rochester Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seidlitz
authors.affiliation: U Rochester Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Caine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010551:Personality; D012649:Self Concept