Openness to experience and mortality in men: analysis of trait and facets.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether specific facets are more robust predictors of mortality risk than overall trait openness in a sample of older men.


METHODS
The current investigation used data from 1,349 men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. From 1990-1991 to 2008, 547 (41%) had died. We used exploratory factor analysis to extract facets of openness, followed by proportional hazards modeling to examine 18-year mortality risk.


RESULTS
Two facets emerged from the openness adjectives: intellect and creativity. In the fully adjusted model, only creativity predicted mortality risk. A 1-SD increase in creativity was associated with a 12% decrease in mortality risk.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated that consideration of facets allows for a more precise understanding of the personality-health association. Higher levels of creativity predict longer survival in a sample of older men which provides preliminary support of the protective role creativity has on health even at advanced ages.
Purdue University and Center on Aging & the Life Course, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2055, USA. nturiano@purdue.edu
Nicholas A
NA
Turiano
Avron
A
Spiro
Daniel K
DK
Mroczek
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003405:Creativity; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D010551:Personality; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment