Trends over 45 years in personality traits among older populations.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Substantial literature indicates that personality traits are integral to well-being and health in aging. We examined time trends in personality over birth cohorts spanning 45 years.

Methods

We used two community-based studies of 3,000 older adults at Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, continuously enrolled since the 1990s and born across seven birth cohorts: 1905-1914, 1915-1919, 1920-1924, 1925-1929, 1930-1934, 1935-1939, and 1940-1950. Conscientiousness, neuroticism, and extraversion were assessed using components of the NEO five-factor personality inventory.

Results

Overall, the mean age was 79 years (interquartile range: 73-84). Within birth cohorts, mean age ranged from 87 years (standard deviation [SD] ± 4.8) among those born in 1905-1914 to 72 ± 4.3 yea

SUBMITTER: Grodstein F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12657452 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature