In this prospective study, the association of a risk score of 97 genetic variants with BMI was stronger among those with low compared with high education. This suggests lower education in adulthood accentuates the risk of higher BMI in people at genetic risk.

Objectives Taking precautions against COVID-19 is important among older adults who have a greater risk for severe illness if infected. We examined whether Big Five personality traits are associated with COVID-19 precautionary behaviors among older adults in Europe. Method We used data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (N=34 629). Personality was self-reported in 2017 using the BFI-10 inventory. COVID-19 precautionary behaviors – wearing a mask, limiting in-person contacts, keeping a distance to others, washing hands, and using a disinfectant – were assessed in the summer of 2020 through self-reports. Associations between personality and precautionary behaviors were examined with multilevel random-intercept logistic regression models. The models were adjusted for age, gender, and educational attainment. Results Personality traits were differentially associated with precautionary behaviors, with higher openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism showing the most consistent associations. The pattern of associations between personality traits and precautionary behaviors varied depending on the specific behavior. The associations were relatively weak in comparison to those between sociodemographic factors and precautionary behaviors. Conclusions: Among older adults, taking COVID-19 precautionary behaviors was most consistently related to higher openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, suggesting that precautionary behaviors may be motivated by multiple psychological differences.

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