Personality traits of centenarians' offspring.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the offspring of centenarians have personality characteristics that are distinct from the general population.


METHODS
Case-control.


METHODS
Nationwide U.S. sample.


METHODS
Unrelated offspring of centenarians (n=246, mean age 75) were compared with published norms.


METHODS
Using the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire, measures of the personality traits neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were obtained. T-scores and percentiles were calculated according to sex and used to interpret the results.


RESULTS
Male and female offspring of centenarians scored in the low range of published norms for neuroticism and in the high range for extraversion. The women also scored comparatively high in agreeableness. Otherwise, both sexes scored within normal range for conscientiousness and openness, and the men scored within normal range for agreeableness.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific personality traits may be important to the relative successful aging demonstrated by the offspring of centenarians. Similarities across four of the five domains between male and female offspring is noteworthy and may relate to their successful aging. Measures of personality are an important phenotype to include in studies that assess genetic and environmental influences of longevity and successful aging.
Givens
Jane L
JL
New England Centenarian Study, Geriatrics Section, School of Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
Frederick
Maureen
M
Silverman
Leanne
L
Anderson
Stacy
S
Senville
Joanna
J
Silver
Margery
M
Sebastiani
Paola
P
Terry
Dellara F
DF
Costa
Paul T
PT
Perls
Thomas T
TT
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States