Conscientiousness, career success, and longevity: a lifespan analysis.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Markers of executive functioning, such as prudent planning for the future and impulse control, are related to conscientiousness and may be central to both occupational success and health outcomes. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine relations among conscientiousness, career success, and mortality risk across a 65-year period. METHODS: Using data derived from 693 male participants in the Terman Life Cycle Study, we examined associations among childhood personality, midlife objective career success, and lifelong mortality risk through 2006. RESULTS: Conscientiousness and career success each predicted lower mortality risk (N = 693, relative hazard (rh) = 0.82 [95% confidence interval = 0.74, 0.91] and rh = 0.80 [0.71, 0.91], respectively), with both shared and unique variance. Importantly, childhood personality moderated the success-longevity link; conscientiousness was most relevant for least successful individuals. CONCLUSION: Conscientiousness and career success predicted longevity, but not in a straightforward manner. Findings highlight the importance of lifespan processes.

Author information

Author/s: Kern, Margaret L (ML); Friedman, Howard S (HS); Martin, Leslie R (LR); Reynolds, Chandra A (CA); Luong, Gloria (G);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0426, USA. Margaret.kern(-atsign-)email.ucr.edu

Grants: AG027001 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS) ; AG08825 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (Ann Behav Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Apr; vol 37 (issue 2) : pp 154-63

Dates: Created 2009/06/08; Completed 2009/09/24;

PMID: 19455378, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/24/2009, IMS Date: )

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