title: Personality and health in Japanese older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Change versus stability of personality in late adulthood is an intriguing yet understudied issue. This cross-sectional study examined age and gender differences in Cloninger's biosocial model of personality, as well as their relation to health in a Japanese community sample whose age exceeds 50 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=330) completed the Temperament and Character Inventory and the General Health Questionnaire. MANOVA and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age-related decreases in Reward Dependence, Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness, and an increase in Self-Transcendence were found. Health was significantly predicted by Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personality change in late adulthood tends to occur in environmentally-based character, in a pattern of gradual social detachment and internal spiritual growth. Personality is a stronger predictor of health than demographic variables.
authors: Graduate School of Education and Human Development, University of Nagoya, Nagoya, Japan. yuyong17@hotmail.com
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Chamorro-Premuzic
authors: Iori
authors: I
authors: Tani
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002605:Character; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament / Q000145:classification