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Personality in women and associations with mortality: a 40-year follow-up in the Population Study of Women in Gothenburg.

Authors :
André, Malin
Billstedt, Eva
Bengtsson, Calle
Hällström, Tore
Lissner, Lauren
Skoog, Ingmar
Sundh, Valter
Waern, Margda
Björkelund, Cecilia
Source :
BMC Women's Health. 2014, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p1-22. 22p. 3 Charts, 4 Graphs.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Background The question of whether personality traits influence health has long been a focus for research and discussion. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine possible associations between personality traits and mortality in women. Methods A population-based sample of women aged 38, 46, 50 and 54years at initial examination in 1968-69 was followed over the course of 40years. At baseline, 589 women completed the Cesarec-Marke Personality Schedule (the Swedish version of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule) and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Associations between personality traits and mortality were tested using Cox proportional hazards models. Results No linear associations between personality traits or factor indices and mortality were found. When comparing the lowest (Q1) and highest quartile (Q4) against the two middle quartiles (Q2 + Q3), the personality trait Succorance Q1 versus Q2 + Q3 showed hazard ratio (HR) = 1.37 (confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.74), and for the factor index Aggressive nonconformance, both the lowest and highest quartiles had a significantly higher risk of death compared to Q2 + Q3: for Q1 HR = 1.32 (CI = 1.03-1.68) and for Q4 HR = 1.36 (CI = 1.06- 1.77). Neither Neuroticism nor Extraversion predicted total mortality. Conclusions Personality traits did not influence long term mortality in this population sample of women followed for 40years from mid- to late life. One explanation may be that personality in women becomes more circumscribed due to the social constraints generated by the role of women in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14726874
Volume :
14
Issue :
1
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
BMC Women's Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
96102609
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-14-61