Personality Traits and Inflammation in Men and Women in Their Early 70s: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study of Healthy Aging
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVES: Studies have reported associations between the five-factor model's personality traits and inflammation markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Findings, however, have been inconsistent. This study investigates these associations in individuals who ranged in age from approximately 70 to 73 years. METHODS: Participants were from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n = 818). Acute-phase proteins-CRP and fibrinogen-were measured at ages approximately 70 years (first wave) and 73 years (second wave), and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 was measured at age 73 years. Personality traits were measured at age 70 years using two instruments, the International Personality Item Pool and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. RESULTS: Lower International Personality Item Pool conscientiousness was cross-sectionally associated with elevated CRP, such that 1 standard deviation higher conscientiousness was associated with 22% lower odds of having a CRP level greater than 3 mg/l (odds ratio = 0.78; 95% confidence interval = 0.67-0.91). NEO Five-Factor Inventory openness was negatively associated with CRP (odds ratio = 0.79; 95% confidence interval = 0.67-0.94) and IL-6 (β = -.08, p = .045) at age 73 years; these associations were attenuated by 26% and 63%, respectively, after adjusting for social background and prior cognitive ability. Body mass index mediated some (14%-18%) of the conscientiousness-inflammation association, whereas common health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity did not significantly mediate the personality trait-inflammatory marker association. CONCLUSIONS: The findings add some support to accumulating evidence for low conscientiousness being linked to higher levels of inflammation and poorer general health.
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Neuroticism has been associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers in multiple studies, in addition to several null findings.
“In addition to several null findings (26-28), neuroticism has been associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers in multiple studies (29,30).”
From Socioeconomic Status Interacts with Conscientiousness and Neuroticism to Predict Circulating Concentrations of Inflammatory Markers (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Mõttus, R., Luciano, M., Starr, J. M., Pollard, M. C., & Deary, I. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Tartu (EE)
- Corresponding author
- Deary, Ian J.
- Venue
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Published
- 2013-01
- Volume
- 75
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 11-19
- ISSN
- 0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2058806234
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 6.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council (MR/K026992/1)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Keywords
- personality traits, inflammation, conscientiousness, openness to experience, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, older adults, health behavior, sex differences, Lothian Birth Cohort 1936
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aging, Alcohol Drinking, C-Reactive Protein, Female, Fibrinogen, Humans, Inflammation, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Personality, Personality Inventory, Scotland, Smoking, Cohort Studies, Biomarkers, Health Behavior, Exercise, Interleukin-6, Body Mass Index, Odds Ratio
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