DOES CHILDHOOD PERSONALITY PREDICT LONGEVITY

Key models relating personality and health predict that personality in childhood is indicative of later health and longevity. Longevity pred ictions are tested using data derived from the 7-decade longitudinal s tudy initiated by L. M. Terman in 1921 (L. M. Terman & M. H. Oden, 194 7). Variables representing major dimensions of personality are used in statistical survival analyses of longevity in 1,178 males and females . Conscientiousness in childhood was clearly related to survival in mi ddle to old age. This finding (a) establishes that childhood personali ty is related to survival decades into the future, (b) confirms the va lidity of the conscientiousness dimension in conceptualizing personali ty, and (c) points to likely and unlikely pathways linking personality to health. Contrary to expectation. cheerfulness (optimism and sense of humor) was inversely related to longevity, suggesting a possible ne ed for reconceptualization of its health relevance.