Does childhood personality predict longevity?

Abstract

Key models relating personality and health predict that personality in childhood is indicative of later health and longevity. Longevity predictions are tested using data derived from the 7-decade longitudinal study initiated by L. M. Terman in 1921(L. M. Terman & M. H. Oden, 1947. Variables representing major dimensions of personality are used in statistical survival analyses of longevity in 1,178 males and females. Conscientiousness in childhood was clearly related to survival in middle to old age. This finding (a) establishes that childhood personality is related to survival decades into the future, (b) confirms the validity of the conscientiousness dimension in conceptualizing personality, and (c) points to likely and unlikely pathways linking personality to health. Contrary to expectation, cheerfulness (optimism and sense of humor) was inversely related to longevity, suggesting a possible need for reconceptualization of its health relevance.A central question about human nature concerns the extent to which personality is meaningful over time. For example, does knowing that a child is highly sociable tell us something important about that person's outcomes much later in life? Aside from the many methodological obstacles, this question is especially difficult to address because predisposing tendencies could be realized in so many different ways. However, perhaps such an effect of personality would be revealed if a significant outcome were selected, one that involved a host of converging factors.A second major question involves the nature of the relations between personality factors and physical health. For example, there is ample evidence that chronic hostility is related to cardiovascular disease (Barefoot, 1992;Matthews, 1988), at least over several years. Although there is reason to believe that personality is signifi-

Duel or Diversion? Conscientiousness and Executive Function in the Prediction of Health and Longevity

“…Related issues have been covered ad nauseum elsewhere (7,8), but we feel credit is due to those researchers whose multi-source and/or longitudinal designs resulted in many of the important findings discussed in our review. There are few more parsimonious accounts of the power of personality than showing how parent and teacher ratings of childhood conscientiousness predict longevity (9,10). In comparison, there is a paucity of research showing the longterm health effects of constructs related to executive functioning.…”

Health benefits: Meta-analytically determining the impact of well-being on objective health outcomes

“…That is, whereas stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, an opposite trigger may decrease sympathetic system activity (Rabin et al, 1994), and promote optimal functioning. Empirical support for this notion is evident in personality research, which has demonstrated that negative traits, such as neuroticism and hostility, relate to increased mortality risk and poor health outcomes (e.g., Smith, 2006;Smith, Glazer, Ruiz, & Gallo, 2004;Smith & Williams, 1992;Suls & Bunde, 2005;Watson & Pennebaker, 1989), whereas positive traits, such as optimism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, relate to decreased mortality risk and better health (Friedman et al, 1993;Hampson, Goldberg, Vogt, & Dubanoski, 2006). Because of the strong correlation between personality traits and SWB, similar mechanisms may characterize the relations between well-being and health (Pressman & Cohen, 2005;Ryff & Singer, 1998).…”

“…Finally, longevity is a reliable and objective health outcome that is arguably the endpoint in a long causal chain of inter-related events. Longevity is determined by length of life in years, and is generally verified from vital records or familial report (e.g., Brown, Butow, Culjak, Coates, & Dunn, 2000;Friedman et al, 1993;Wingard, Berkman, & Brand, 1994).…”

Investigating the effects of conscientiousness on daily stress, affect and physical symptom processes: A daily diary study

“…The evidence for a positive relationship between C and longevity is accumulating Friedman et al, 1993;Hampson, Goldberg, Vogt, & Dubanoski, 2006;Kern & Friedman, 2008;Takahashi, Roberts & Hoshino, 2012). For example, data from the Terman Life Cycle Study have shown that people high in C have a significantly reduced risk of dying in any given year (Friedman et al, 1993). C has also been found to be associated with better health status (Goodwin & Friedman, 2006), greater adherence to medication (Molloy, O"Carroll & Ferguson, in press) and lower obesity risk across populations (Jokela et al, 2013a).…”

“…The evidence for a positive relationship between C and longevity is accumulating Friedman et al, 1993;Hampson, Goldberg, Vogt, & Dubanoski, 2006;Kern & Friedman, 2008;Takahashi, Roberts & Hoshino, 2012). For example, data from the Terman Life Cycle Study have shown that people high in C have a significantly reduced risk of dying in any given year (Friedman et al, 1993).…”