Is Healthy Neuroticism Associated with Longevity? A Coordinated Integrative Data Analysis

Nicholas A. Turiano, Eileen K. Graham, Sara J. Weston, Tom Booth, Fleur Harrison, Bryan D. James, Nathan A. Lewis, Steven R. Makkar, Swantje Mueller, Kristi M. Wisniewski, Ruixue Zhaoyang, Avron Spiro, Sherry Willis, K. Warner Schaie, Richard B. Lipton, Mindy Katz, Martin Sliwinski, Ian J. Deary, Elizabeth M. Zelinski, David A. BennettPerminder S. Sachdev, Henry Brodaty, Julian N. Trollor, David Ames, Margaret J. Wright, Denis Gerstorf, Graciela Muniz-Terrera, Andrea M. Piccinin, Scott M. Hofer, Daniel K. Mroczek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Individual differences in the Big Five personality traits have emerged as predictors of health and longevity. Although there are robust protective effects for higher levels of conscientiousness, results are mixed for other personality traits. In particular, higher levels of neuroticism have significantly predicted an increased risk of mortality, no-risk at all, and even a reduced risk of dying. The current study hypothesizes that one potential reason for the discrepancy in these findings for neuroticism is that interactions among neuroticism and other key personality traits have largely been ignored. Thus, in the current study we focus on testing whether the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness interact to predict mortality. Specifically, we borrow from recent evidence of "healthy neuroticism" to explore whether higher levels of neuroticism are only a risk factor for increased mortality risk when conscientiousness levels are low. We conducted a pre-registered integrative data analysis using 12 different cohort studies (total N = 44,702). Although a consistent pattern emerged of higher levels of conscientiousness predicting a reduced hazard of dying, neuroticism did not show a consistent pattern of prediction. Moreover, no study provided statistical evidence of a neuroticism by conscientiousness interaction. The current findings do not support the idea that the combination of high conscientiousness and high neuroticism can be protective for longevity. Future work is needed to explore different protective factors that may buffer the negative effects of higher levels of neuroticism on health, as well as other behaviors and outcomes that may support the construct of healthy neuroticism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number33
JournalCollabra: Psychology
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 21 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Psychology

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