What Does Your Personality Say About Your Mortality Risk?

Researchers in numerous studies have attempted to link specific personality features with risk for early demise, but few have examined all major personality dimensions. These investigators used datasets from seven large, longitudinal, cohort studies that included baseline personality assessments based on the “five factor” model — extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.

During an average follow-up of about 6 years, 3947 deaths occurred among 76,150 adults (average baseline age, 51; 54% women). Analyses controlled for sex, age, ethnicity/nationality, education, marital status, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity. Of the personality traits, only low conscientiousness was …