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Relationship between Personality and Mortality among Japanese Older Adults: A 14-Year Longitudinal Study

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  • Hajime Iwasa

    (Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
    Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan)

  • Hiroki Inagaki

    (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan)

  • Yukie Masui

    (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan)

  • Yasuyuki Gondo

    (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
    Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan)

Abstract

Personality is one of the fundamental factors in determining longevity. We used a 14-year mortality surveillance to investigate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and all-cause mortality among older adults dwelling in a Japanese community. Individuals over 65 years old (484 males and 743 females) were recruited for the study. We used the NEO Five-Factor Inventory to assess the Big Five personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. During the follow-up period, 502 persons (250 men and 252 women) had died. Cox proportional hazards regression controlling for covariates showed that extraversion (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.783, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.636 to 0.965 and HR = 0.757, 95% CI = 0.607 to 0.944 for the middle and highest tertiles, respectively), openness (HR = 0.768, 95% CI = 0.608 to 0.969 for the highest tertile), and conscientiousness (HR = 0.745, 95% CI = 0.607 to 0.913 and HR = 0.667, 95% CI = 0.530 to 0.840 for the middle and highest tertiles, respectively) were inversely associated with mortality when the five traits were analyzed separately. Our findings suggest that older adults who have a higher level of either extraversion, openness, or conscientiousness are more likely to live longer.

Suggested Citation

  • Hajime Iwasa & Hiroki Inagaki & Yukie Masui & Yasuyuki Gondo, 2022. "Relationship between Personality and Mortality among Japanese Older Adults: A 14-Year Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-8, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2413-:d:753480
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert S. Wilson & Carlos F. Mendes de Leon & Julia L. Bienias & Denis A. Evans & David A. Bennett, 2004. "Personality and Mortality in Old Age," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 59(3), pages 110-116.
    2. Tiina-Mari Lyyra & Riitta-Liisa Heikkinen, 2006. "Perceived Social Support and Mortality in Older People," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(3), pages 147-152.
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