Openness to Experience and Mortality in Men
Open Access
- 4 January 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Aging and Health
- Vol. 24 (4), 654-672
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264311431303
Abstract
Objectives: We examined whether specific facets are more robust predictors of mortality risk than overall trait openness in a sample of older men. Methods: The current investigation used data from 1,349 men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. From 1990-1991 to 2008, 547 (41%) had died. We used exploratory factor analysis to extract facets of openness, followed by proportional hazards modeling to examine 18-year mortality risk. Results: Two facets emerged from the openness adjectives: intellect and creativity. In the fully adjusted model, only creativity predicted mortality risk. A 1- SD increase in creativity was associated with a 12% decrease in mortality risk. Discussion: The study demonstrated that consideration of facets allows for a more precise understanding of the personality–health association. Higher levels of creativity predict longer survival in a sample of older men which provides preliminary support of the protective role creativity has on health even at advanced ages.Keywords
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- Can an old dog learn (and want to experience) new tricks? Cognitive training increases openness to experience in older adults.Psychology and Aging, 2012
- Personality Trait Level and Change as Predictors of Health Outcomes: Findings From a National Study of Americans (MIDUS)The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2011
- Five Factor Model Personality Traits and All-Cause Mortality in the Edinburgh Artery Study CohortPsychosomatic Medicine, 2009
- Openness to Experience and stress regulationJournal of Research in Personality, 2009
- Personality Change Influences Mortality in Older MenPsychological Science, 2007
- Relationship between Cortisol Responses to Stress and PersonalityNeuropsychopharmacology, 2006
- The Association Between Trait Anger and Incident Stroke RiskStroke, 2002
- Big Five factors and facets and the prediction of behavior.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2001
- The Criterion Validity of Broad Factor Scales versus Specific Facet ScalesJournal of Research in Personality, 1995
- An index of factorial simplicityPsychometrika, 1974