Personality Traits That Predict Longevity

How the Big Five Contributes to Healthy Aging and a Long Lifespan

Apr 8, 2009

Some Big Five Personality Traits, such as high extraversion, lead to healthy aging and a longer life. Here's how personality traits predict longevity.

Your personality traits may predict healthy aging and a longer life, say researchers from Boston University School of Medicine's New England Centenarian Study.

They discovered that specific Big Five Personality Traits are associated with healthy aging and longevity.

Past Research on Personality Traits and Longevity

Healthy aging and long lifespan runs in families, according to past research on siblings and children of centenarians (people who have lived past 100-years-old).

Children of centenarians are less likely to struggle with health problems such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

Since personality traits – the Big Five Personality Traits in particular – are passed along in families, this current psychological research focused on the children of centenarians, many of whom were almost 100-years-old themselves.

Current Research on Personality Traits and Longevity

Thomas Perls, MD, MPH, is the director of the New England Centenarian Study, which used the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire. The Big Five Personality Traits measured were neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

These researchers analyzed how personality traits predict healthy aging and longer lifespans by analyzing 246 children of centenarians, who were of an average age of 75.

Of the Big Five Personality Traits, both male and female children of centenarians scored lower than average in neuroticism and higher than average for extraversion. The women scored higher than average in agreeableness. Both male and female children of centenarians were in normal range for conscientiousness and openness.

How Personality Traits Affect Healthy Aging

“It's likely that the low neuroticism and higher extraversion will confer health benefits for these subjects," said Dr Perls. "For example, people who are lower in neuroticism are able to manage or regulate stressful situations more effectively than those with higher neuroticism levels. Similarly, high extraversion levels have been associated with establishing friendships and looking after yourself."

Perls concluded that personality traits are important in determining healthy aging and long lifespans, and said more research is underway.

To live a long, healthy life and to reduce neurotic tendencies, make sure you have a strong support network, deal with stress and anxiety effectively, and stay physically active.

The copyright of the article Personality Traits That Predict Longevity in Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Personality Traits That Predict Longevity in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.