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Do conscientious individuals live longer? A quantitative review.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Following up on growing evidence that higher levels of conscientiousness are associated with greater health protection, the authors conducted a meta-analysis of the association between conscientiousness-related traits and longevity. DESIGN: Using a random-effects analysis model, the authors statistically combined 20 independent samples. In addition, the authors used fixed-effects analyses to examine specific facets of conscientiousness and study characteristics as potential moderators of this relationship. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect sizes were computed for each individual sample as the correlation coefficient r, based on the relationship between conscientiousness and mortality risk (all-cause mortality risk, longevity, or length of survival). RESULTS: Higher levels of conscientiousness were significantly and positively related to longevity (r = .11, 95% confidence interval = .05-.17). Associations were strongest for the achievement (persistent, industrious) and order (organized, disciplined) facets of conscientiousness. CONCLUSION: Results strongly support the importance of conscientiousness-related traits to health across the life span. Future research and interventions should consider how individual differences in conscientiousness may cause and be shaped by health-relevant biopsychosocial events across many years.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kern, M. L., & Friedman, H. S.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Riverside (US)
- Venue
- Health Psychology
- Published
- 2008-09
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 505-512
- ISSN
- 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-7810
- OpenAlex
- W2097694521
- Cited by
- 464
- References
- 74
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 42
- FWCI
- 21.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (AG08825, AG027001)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Keywords
- conscientiousness, personality traits, longevity, mortality risk, all-cause mortality, personality and health
- MeSH terms
- Health Status, Humans, Longevity, Personality, Social Responsibility
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