Vital personality scores and healthy aging: Life-course associations and familial transmission

Jasmin Wertz; Salomon Israel; Louise Arseneault; Daniel W. Belsky; Kyle J. Bourassa; Hona Lee Harrington; Renate Houts; Richie Poulton; Leah S. Richmond-Rakerd; Espen Røysamb; Terrie E. Moffitt; Avshalom Caspi

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114283

Vital personality scores and healthy aging: Life-course associations and familial transmission

Jasmin Wertz^*, Salomon Israel, Louise Arseneault, Daniel W. Belsky, Kyle J. Bourassa, Hona Lee Harrington, Renate Houts, Richie Poulton, Leah S. Richmond-Rakerd, Espen Røysamb, Terrie E. Moffitt, Avshalom Caspi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Personality traits are linked with healthy aging, but it is not clear how these associations come to manifest across the life-course and across generations. To study this question, we tested a series of hypotheses about (a) personality-trait prediction of markers of healthy aging across the life-course, (b) developmental origins, stability and change of links between personality and healthy aging across time, and (c) intergenerational transmission of links between personality and healthy aging. For our analyses we used a measure that aggregates the contributions of Big 5 personality traits to healthy aging: a “vital personality” score. Methods: Data came from two population-based longitudinal cohort studies, one based in New Zealand and the other in the UK, comprising over 6000 study members across two generations, and spanning an age range from birth to late life. Results: Our analyses revealed three main findings: first, individuals with higher vital personality scores engaged in fewer health-risk behaviors, aged slower, and lived longer. Second, individuals’ vital personality scores were preceded by differences in early-life temperament and were relatively stable across adulthood, but also increased from young adulthood to midlife. Third, individuals with higher vital personality scores had children with similarly vital partners, promoted healthier behaviors in their children, and had children who grew up to have more vital personality scores themselves, for genetic and environmental reasons. Conclusion: Our study shows how the health benefits associated with personality accrue throughout the life-course and across generations.

Original language	American English
Article number	114283
Journal	Social Science and Medicine
Volume	285
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114283
State	Published - Sep 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (AG032282), the National Institute of Child Health and Development (HD077482), the U.K. Medical Research Council (MR/P005918/1, G1002190) and the Jacobs Foundation. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. L. Arseneault is the Mental Health Leadership Fellow for the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). D.W. Belsky received support from the Jacobs Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation Grant 1810-08987. J. Wertz (AXA Research Fund), K.J. Bourassa (NIA T32-AG000029) and L.S. Richmond-Rakerd (NICHD T32-HD007376) received support from postdoctoral fellowships. Espen Røysamb received support from the Norwegian Research Council (288083). We thank the Dunedin Study members, their parents, teachers, partners, and informants; and Dunedin study founder Phil Silva. We thank the E-Risk study twins, their parents, teachers, and informants.

Funding Information:
This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging ( AG032282 ), the National Institute of Child Health and Development ( HD077482 ), the U.K. Medical Research Council ( MR/P005918/1 , G1002190 ) and the Jacobs Foundation. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment . L. Arseneault is the Mental Health Leadership Fellow for the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). D.W. Belsky received support from the Jacobs Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation Grant 1810-08987 . J. Wertz ( AXA Research Fund ), K.J. Bourassa ( NIA T32-AG000029 ) and L.S. Richmond-Rakerd ( NICHD T32-HD007376 ) received support from postdoctoral fellowships. Espen Røysamb received support from the Norwegian Research Council ( 288083 ). We thank the Dunedin Study members, their parents, teachers, partners, and informants; and Dunedin study founder Phil Silva. We thank the E-Risk study twins, their parents, teachers, and informants.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021

Keywords

Big 5
Health
Life-course
Mortality
Personality

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114283

Cite this

Wertz, J., Israel, S., Arseneault, L., Belsky, D. W., Bourassa, K. J., Harrington, H. L., Houts, R., Poulton, R., Richmond-Rakerd, L. S., Røysamb, E., Moffitt, T. E., & Caspi, A. (2021). Vital personality scores and healthy aging: Life-course associations and familial transmission. Social Science and Medicine, 285, Article 114283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114283

@article{a8183e2a2fea4e1880e1041cf3d5d0e0,

title = "Vital personality scores and healthy aging: Life-course associations and familial transmission",

abstract = "Objectives: Personality traits are linked with healthy aging, but it is not clear how these associations come to manifest across the life-course and across generations. To study this question, we tested a series of hypotheses about (a) personality-trait prediction of markers of healthy aging across the life-course, (b) developmental origins, stability and change of links between personality and healthy aging across time, and (c) intergenerational transmission of links between personality and healthy aging. For our analyses we used a measure that aggregates the contributions of Big 5 personality traits to healthy aging: a “vital personality” score. Methods: Data came from two population-based longitudinal cohort studies, one based in New Zealand and the other in the UK, comprising over 6000 study members across two generations, and spanning an age range from birth to late life. Results: Our analyses revealed three main findings: first, individuals with higher vital personality scores engaged in fewer health-risk behaviors, aged slower, and lived longer. Second, individuals{\textquoteright} vital personality scores were preceded by differences in early-life temperament and were relatively stable across adulthood, but also increased from young adulthood to midlife. Third, individuals with higher vital personality scores had children with similarly vital partners, promoted healthier behaviors in their children, and had children who grew up to have more vital personality scores themselves, for genetic and environmental reasons. Conclusion: Our study shows how the health benefits associated with personality accrue throughout the life-course and across generations.",

keywords = "Big 5, Health, Life-course, Mortality, Personality",

author = "Jasmin Wertz and Salomon Israel and Louise Arseneault and Belsky, {Daniel W.} and Bourassa, {Kyle J.} and Harrington, {Hona Lee} and Renate Houts and Richie Poulton and Richmond-Rakerd, {Leah S.} and Espen R{\o}ysamb and Moffitt, {Terrie E.} and Avshalom Caspi",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (AG032282), the National Institute of Child Health and Development (HD077482), the U.K. Medical Research Council (MR/P005918/1, G1002190) and the Jacobs Foundation. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. L. Arseneault is the Mental Health Leadership Fellow for the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). D.W. Belsky received support from the Jacobs Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation Grant 1810-08987. J. Wertz (AXA Research Fund), K.J. Bourassa (NIA T32-AG000029) and L.S. Richmond-Rakerd (NICHD T32-HD007376) received support from postdoctoral fellowships. Espen R{\o}ysamb received support from the Norwegian Research Council (288083). We thank the Dunedin Study members, their parents, teachers, partners, and informants; and Dunedin study founder Phil Silva. We thank the E-Risk study twins, their parents, teachers, and informants. Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging ( AG032282 ), the National Institute of Child Health and Development ( HD077482 ), the U.K. Medical Research Council ( MR/P005918/1 , G1002190 ) and the Jacobs Foundation. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment . L. Arseneault is the Mental Health Leadership Fellow for the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). D.W. Belsky received support from the Jacobs Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation Grant 1810-08987 . J. Wertz ( AXA Research Fund ), K.J. Bourassa ( NIA T32-AG000029 ) and L.S. Richmond-Rakerd ( NICHD T32-HD007376 ) received support from postdoctoral fellowships. Espen R{\o}ysamb received support from the Norwegian Research Council ( 288083 ). We thank the Dunedin Study members, their parents, teachers, partners, and informants; and Dunedin study founder Phil Silva. We thank the E-Risk study twins, their parents, teachers, and informants. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021",

year = "2021",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114283",

language = "American English",

volume = "285",

journal = "Social Science and Medicine",

issn = "0277-9536",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Vital personality scores and healthy aging

T2 - Life-course associations and familial transmission

AU - Wertz, Jasmin

AU - Israel, Salomon

AU - Arseneault, Louise

AU - Belsky, Daniel W.

AU - Bourassa, Kyle J.

AU - Harrington, Hona Lee

AU - Houts, Renate

AU - Poulton, Richie

AU - Richmond-Rakerd, Leah S.

AU - Røysamb, Espen

AU - Moffitt, Terrie E.

AU - Caspi, Avshalom

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (AG032282), the National Institute of Child Health and Development (HD077482), the U.K. Medical Research Council (MR/P005918/1, G1002190) and the Jacobs Foundation. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. L. Arseneault is the Mental Health Leadership Fellow for the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). D.W. Belsky received support from the Jacobs Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation Grant 1810-08987. J. Wertz (AXA Research Fund), K.J. Bourassa (NIA T32-AG000029) and L.S. Richmond-Rakerd (NICHD T32-HD007376) received support from postdoctoral fellowships. Espen Røysamb received support from the Norwegian Research Council (288083). We thank the Dunedin Study members, their parents, teachers, partners, and informants; and Dunedin study founder Phil Silva. We thank the E-Risk study twins, their parents, teachers, and informants. Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging ( AG032282 ), the National Institute of Child Health and Development ( HD077482 ), the U.K. Medical Research Council ( MR/P005918/1 , G1002190 ) and the Jacobs Foundation. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment . L. Arseneault is the Mental Health Leadership Fellow for the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). D.W. Belsky received support from the Jacobs Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation Grant 1810-08987 . J. Wertz ( AXA Research Fund ), K.J. Bourassa ( NIA T32-AG000029 ) and L.S. Richmond-Rakerd ( NICHD T32-HD007376 ) received support from postdoctoral fellowships. Espen Røysamb received support from the Norwegian Research Council ( 288083 ). We thank the Dunedin Study members, their parents, teachers, partners, and informants; and Dunedin study founder Phil Silva. We thank the E-Risk study twins, their parents, teachers, and informants. Publisher Copyright: © 2021

PY - 2021/9

Y1 - 2021/9

N2 - Objectives: Personality traits are linked with healthy aging, but it is not clear how these associations come to manifest across the life-course and across generations. To study this question, we tested a series of hypotheses about (a) personality-trait prediction of markers of healthy aging across the life-course, (b) developmental origins, stability and change of links between personality and healthy aging across time, and (c) intergenerational transmission of links between personality and healthy aging. For our analyses we used a measure that aggregates the contributions of Big 5 personality traits to healthy aging: a “vital personality” score. Methods: Data came from two population-based longitudinal cohort studies, one based in New Zealand and the other in the UK, comprising over 6000 study members across two generations, and spanning an age range from birth to late life. Results: Our analyses revealed three main findings: first, individuals with higher vital personality scores engaged in fewer health-risk behaviors, aged slower, and lived longer. Second, individuals’ vital personality scores were preceded by differences in early-life temperament and were relatively stable across adulthood, but also increased from young adulthood to midlife. Third, individuals with higher vital personality scores had children with similarly vital partners, promoted healthier behaviors in their children, and had children who grew up to have more vital personality scores themselves, for genetic and environmental reasons. Conclusion: Our study shows how the health benefits associated with personality accrue throughout the life-course and across generations.

AB - Objectives: Personality traits are linked with healthy aging, but it is not clear how these associations come to manifest across the life-course and across generations. To study this question, we tested a series of hypotheses about (a) personality-trait prediction of markers of healthy aging across the life-course, (b) developmental origins, stability and change of links between personality and healthy aging across time, and (c) intergenerational transmission of links between personality and healthy aging. For our analyses we used a measure that aggregates the contributions of Big 5 personality traits to healthy aging: a “vital personality” score. Methods: Data came from two population-based longitudinal cohort studies, one based in New Zealand and the other in the UK, comprising over 6000 study members across two generations, and spanning an age range from birth to late life. Results: Our analyses revealed three main findings: first, individuals with higher vital personality scores engaged in fewer health-risk behaviors, aged slower, and lived longer. Second, individuals’ vital personality scores were preceded by differences in early-life temperament and were relatively stable across adulthood, but also increased from young adulthood to midlife. Third, individuals with higher vital personality scores had children with similarly vital partners, promoted healthier behaviors in their children, and had children who grew up to have more vital personality scores themselves, for genetic and environmental reasons. Conclusion: Our study shows how the health benefits associated with personality accrue throughout the life-course and across generations.

KW - Big 5

KW - Health

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M1 - 114283

ER -

Vital personality scores and healthy aging: Life-course associations and familial transmission

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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