BackgroundsAccelerated cellular ageing, which can be examined by telomere length (TL), may be an
overarching mechanism underlying the association between personality and adverse health
outcomes. This 6-year longitudinal study examined the relation between personality and
leukocyte telomere length (LTL) across time among adults with a wide age-range.MethodsData from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety were used and included
patients with a depression and/or anxiety disorder and healthy controls. Overall, 2936
persons (18–65 years, 66% female) had data on LTL at baseline and 1883 persons had LTL
at 6-year follow-up. The Big Five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion,
openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and Type D personality
were assessed.ResultsNeuroticism was negatively (B = −2.11, p = 0.03) and
agreeableness was positively (B = 3.84, p = 0.03)
related to LTL measured across two time points, which became just non-significant after
adjusting for somatic health, lifestyle factors, and recent life stress
(B = −1.99, p = 0.06; and B = 3.01,
p = 0.10). Type D personality was negatively (B =
−50.16, p < 0.01) related to LTL across two time points, which
still remained statistically significant after full adjustment (B =
−47.37, p = 0.01). Associations did not differ by age, gender, and
current psychiatric status.ConclusionsThe Big Five traits high neuroticism and low agreeableness, and Type D personality were
associated with shorter LTL measured across a 6-year period. Associations with the Big
Five traits became non-significant after controlling for somatic health, lifestyle
factors, and recent life stress, yet similar trends were observed. Type D personality
remained independently associated with shorter LTL after full adjustment.