title: The contribution of personality to longevity: findings from the Australian Centenarian Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether centenarians have a unique set of personality traits, which may in part explain their longevity.
  
  
  METHODS
  79 Australian centenarians completed the NEO Five Factory Inventory (NEO-FFI), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) to assess different dimensions of their personalities. Centenarians were asked to answer items of the NEO-FFI, CD-RISC and LOT-R based on current views, and were then asked to recall in the presence of an informant (e.g. carers, offspring) on past personality (i.e. at mid-adult-life). Both sets of answers were recorded and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Centenarians were currently low in Openness and Extraversion and high in Neuroticism, but were low in Openness and high in Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Extraversion when reflecting on past traits. Currently, centenarians in high care facilities reported higher levels of Neuroticism, as did centenarians who did not socialize. Cognitively intact centenarians reported higher levels of Agreeableness; and males reported lower Neuroticism compared to females when reflecting on past experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Centenarians were characterized by several personality traits, which facilitated positive health behaviors and thus contributed to their longevity. It is possible that personality may not be static across the lifespan, but instead, reflect advancing age, psychosocial factors and changes in life circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: jenaleen.law@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Jenaleen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Law
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kay-Lambkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007439:Introversion, Psychological; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: CD-RISC; Centenarians; LOT-R; Longevity; NEO-FFI; Personality