Neuroticism, extraversion, and mortality in a defined population of older persons.
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
Robert S
RS
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. rwilson@rush.edu
Krueger
Kristin R
KR
Gu
Liping
L
Bienias
Julia L
JL
Mendes de Leon
Carlos F
CF
Evans
Denis A
DA
D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D009043:Motor Activity; D009497:Neurotic Disorders; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population