Psychologists Reveal Three Personality Traits Linked to Early Death

New research suggests that your personality could be a significant factor in determining how long you live. The study reveals specific traits that may either increase or decrease the risk of early mortality.

Researchers at the University of Limerick in Ireland conducted a large-scale study and determined that personality traits, including anxiety levels, how organized you are, and how outgoing you are, can have a strong influence on lifespan. According to the research team, these traits are as crucial in predicting mortality risk as factors like income, education, and social status.

The research involved analyzing decades of data collected from nearly 570,000 individuals across four continents. The data encompassed almost six million years of life and included over 43,000 deaths. This makes it one of the most extensive and detailed investigations into the potential connection between personality and lifespan.

Anxiety and Mortality Risk

The study highlighted the impact of neuroticism, a trait characterized by worry, anxiety, and emotional instability. The results showed that adults exhibiting higher levels of neuroticism had a significantly elevated risk of dying earlier compared to those with lower levels. For each one-point increase in neuroticism, researchers observed a corresponding three percent increase in the risk of death at any given time.

This connection was particularly evident in younger adults, implying that prolonged stress and difficulties in managing emotions can gradually weaken the body and negatively impact overall health.

Traits That May Promote Longevity

Conversely, individuals who scored higher in conscientiousness—a trait defined by being organized, disciplined, and goal-oriented—demonstrated a considerably reduced risk of death. A one-point increase in conscientiousness correlated with a 10 percent decrease in mortality risk, representing the strongest protective effect identified in the study.

Furthermore, extraversion, characterized by sociability and active engagement with others, also showed a link to increased longevity. Higher scores in extraversion were associated with a three percent reduction in mortality risk, particularly in countries like the United States and Australia.

Not All Traits Equally Impact Lifespan

The study indicated little to no consistent correlation between mortality risk and traits like openness (curiosity and creativity) or agreeableness (cooperativeness and trust). This suggests that not all personality traits have a bearing on health and mortality.

Máire McGeehan, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Limerick, clarified that the personality traits linked to higher mortality are not necessarily fixed. She noted that the study highlights the increased risk for those higher in neuroticism within a general population, compared to those lower in neuroticism. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. she emphasized that this risk is relative, not absolute.

Fellow author and psychologist Páraic S Ó’Súilleabháin from Limerick believes the findings could change how researchers and policymakers consider health risks. He stated that personality is a crucial factor in health and longevity, with effects comparable to commonly considered public health determinants like socioeconomic status. Ó’Súilleabháin described the work as groundbreaking and expects it to stimulate future research into how psychological traits affect biological processes and health behaviors over time.

McGeehan added that this information can raise awareness about health behaviors and coping mechanisms, which may contribute to health outcomes and impact lifespan.