Personality trait level and change as predictors of health outcomes: findings from a national study of Americans (MIDUS)

Personality traits predict numerous health outcomes, but previous studies have rarely used personality change to predict health. The current investigation utilized a large national sample of 3,990 participants from the Midlife in the U.S. study (MIDUS) to examine if both personality trait level and...

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Published inThe journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 4 - 12
Main Authors Turiano, Nicholas A, Pitzer, Lindsay, Armour, Cherie, Karlamangla, Arun, Ryff, Carol D, Mroczek, Daniel K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Oxford University Press for Gerontological Society of America 01.01.2012
SeriesJournals of Gerontology: Series B
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Forecasting
Health Status
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Personality - classification
Personality Disorders - classification
Personality Disorders - epidemiology
Personality Disorders - therapy
Self Report
Treatment Outcome
United States - epidemiology
Work - physiology
Work - psychology
Work - trends
United States
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Summary:Personality traits predict numerous health outcomes, but previous studies have rarely used personality change to predict health. The current investigation utilized a large national sample of 3,990 participants from the Midlife in the U.S. study (MIDUS) to examine if both personality trait level and personality change longitudinally predict 3 different health outcomes (i.e., self-rated physical health, self-reported blood pressure, and number of days limited at work or home due to physical health reasons) over a 10-year span. Each of the Big Five traits, except openness, predicted self-rated health. Change in agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion also predicted self-rated health. Trait levels of conscientiousness and neuroticism level predicted self-reported blood pressure. All trait levels except agreeableness predicted number of work days limited. Only change in conscientiousness predicted the number of work days limited. Findings demonstrate that a full understanding of the link between personality and health requires consideration of trait change as well as trait level.
ISSN:1079-5014
1758-5368
DOI:10.1093/geronb/gbr072