Do conscientious individuals live longer? A quantitative review.

Kern, Margaret L.; Frıedman, Howard S.

doi:10.1037/0278-6133.27.5.505

Cited by 431 publications

(301 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…However, the advantage of orderliness was potentiated when it was combined with either high levels of dependability, or high levels of goal-striving. Recent meta-analytic findings also suggest an important role for this facet of Conscientiousness in longevity (35). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality and Physician-Assessed Illness Burden in Older Primary Care Patients Over 4 Years

Chapman

Roberts

Lyness

et al. 2013

The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

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Background Personality traits have been associated with physician-rated illness burden cross-sectionally, but longitudinal associations between personality and objective medical morbidity remain unclear. Purpose To examine associations between personality and physician-rated illness burden 4 years prospectively in older primary care patients. Method At baseline, patients (average age = 75, SD = 6.6, 62% female) completed the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. At baseline and 4 yearly follow-ups, a physician completed the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale based on medical records. Results Linear mixed effects models revealed that higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness predicted worse average illness burden longitudinally. Relatively disagreeable persons (25th percentile) accumulated morbidity at a 33% faster rate than agreeable (75th percentile) peers. At the final follow-up, a person at the 75th percentile of neuroticism and the 25th percentile of conscientiousness and agreeableness showed morbidity comparable to a peer of average personality but 10 years older. An individual at the 25th percentile of neuroticism and 75th percentile of conscientiousness and agreeableness showed end-point illness burden comparable to a peer of average personality but 10 years younger. 21% of the morbidity associated with neuroticism was explained by total cholesterol. History of hypertension, smoking, alcohol/drug abuse, and affective symptoms of depression each explained 10% or less of the other observed personality effects. Conclusion Personality plays a non-trivial role in healthy aging among older persons. Brief personality assessment may identify at-risk older persons for closer monitoring, enhance the accuracy of medical prognosis, and provide clues for clinical interventions to promote better health.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality and Physician-Assessed Illness Burden in Older Primary Care Patients Over 4 Years

Chapman

Roberts

Lyness

et al. 2013

The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

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“…First, many studies have examined associations between C and these mediators (e.g., a health behavior such as smoking) or between C and specific forms of health (e.g., functional limitations), but far fewer studies have examined mediational chains involving all three sets of variables. Thus, C is related to health behaviors and to mortality, but the extent to which health behaviors mediate the association between C and mortality is largely unexamined (Kern & Friedman, 2008).…”

Section: Methodological Caveatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conscientiousness, health, and aging: The Life Course of Personality Model.

Shanahan¹,

Hill²,

Roberts³

et al. 2014

Developmental Psychology

Self Cite

191

171

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The Conscientiousness (C) of the self and significant others influences health by way of mediational chains involving socioeconomic attainment, the avoidance and neutralization of stressors, the promotion of health behaviors and the minimization of risk behaviors, and the management of symptoms and diseases. Yet, meta-analyses reveal that these associations are moderated by factors that are not well understood. We propose the Life Course of Personality Model (LCP Model), which comprises a series of hypotheses that suggest how such mediational chains are subject to 2 sources of contingency. First, the mechanisms by which C translates into health and the avoidance of risk change from early childhood to late adulthood, involving processes that are specific to phases of the life course; also, however, C influences health by way of continuous processes extending over many decades of life. Second, C may be more consequential in some social contexts than in others, and when accompanied by some constellations of personality characteristics than by others. That is, the mediational processes by which C translates into health and the avoidance of disease are likely moderated by timing, social context (including the C of others), and other aspects of the individual's personality. We consider methodological implications of the LCP Model.

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“…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).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Gartland

O’Connor

Lawton

et al. 2013

British J Health Psychol

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Objectives: Higher conscientiousness (C) predicts better health outcomes. Recent research suggests stress may play an important role in explaining this relationship. The current study aimed to establish whether C moderates the relationship between daily hassle appraisals, daily affect and physical symptoms.Design and Methods: A daily diary design was used, where participants (N=103) completed a baseline measure of C followed by a 14-day daily diary, providing daily details of hassles (primary & secondary appraisals) experienced as well as positive and negative affect and physical symptoms.Results: Hierarchical linear modelling revealed that Total C (as well as two facets of C: Order and Industriousness) moderated the relationship between stress appraisals and positive affect. Specifically, the negative association between the daily appraisal of hassles as stressful (i.e., where perceived demands outweighed perceived resources) and positive affect was stronger for lower and average levels of C, Order and Industriousness. No significant moderated effects were found for negative affect or physical symptoms. The Order facet was found to be an important factor predicting attrition.Conclusions: The current study provided evidence that C and two of its facets can moderate the relationship between hassle appraisal and positive affect. C may exert part of its influence on health by modifying the effects of daily stressors.

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Do conscientious individuals live longer? A quantitative review.

Abstract: Results strongly support the importance of conscientiousness-related traits to health across the life span. Future research and interventions should consider how individual differences in conscientiousness may cause and be shaped by health-relevant biopsychosocial events across many years.

Cited by 431 publications

References 81 publications

Personality and Physician-Assessed Illness Burden in Older Primary Care Patients Over 4 Years

Personality and Physician-Assessed Illness Burden in Older Primary Care Patients Over 4 Years

Conscientiousness, health, and aging: The Life Course of Personality Model.

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

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