Early Personality Traits as Predictors of Mortality Risk Following Conjugal Bereavement

Bibliographic Data

ID19281076
AuthorsKeiko A Taga (University of California, Riverside), Howard S Friedman (0000-0002-3528-5136, University of California, Riverside, corresponding author), Leslie R Martins (0000-0002-0121-9480, La Sierra University), Leslie R Martin
Year2009
Volume77
Issue3
Pages669-690
Publication date2009-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3506 • E-ISSN: 1467-6494
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00561.x
PMID20078734
OpenAlexW2040780323
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited67

This study explored pre‐bereavement personality traits and gender as predictors of post‐widowhood mortality risk, using newly derived life span data for participants originally recruited for Lewis Terman's classic study of the gifted. Personality traits measured in 1940 were used to predict mortality risk from 1940 through 2004 for married participants who were either widowed between 1940 and 1986 or who remained married. Results indicated that widowhood predicted a decrease in mortality risk for these (intelligent) individuals (relative hazard [ rh ]=0.68, N =843, p rh =0.50, N =66, p

Big Five personality traits · Developmental psychology · Life span · Neuroticism · Personality · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology