In the midst of a pandemic, more introverted individuals may have a mortality advantage

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

We investigated whether the relationship between extroversion and mortality changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Midlife Americans were surveyed in 1995–96 with mortality follow-up through December 31, 2020. We used a Cox model to estimate age-specific mortality controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, the period trend in mortality, an indicator for the pandemic period (Mar-Dec 2020), and an interaction between extroversion and the pandemic indicator.

Results

Prior to the pandemic, extroversion was associated with somewhat lower mortality (HR = 0.93 per SD, 95% CI 0.88–0.97), but the relationship reversed during the pandemic. Extroversion was associated with greater pandemic-related excess mortality (HR = 1.29 per SD, 95% CI 1.00–1.67). That is, comp

SUBMITTER:  

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9708106 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature