A new study has revealed that individuals who are organised, responsible, and hardworking may live longer than those who are careless. The research, published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, analysed data from 22,000 participants and found that conscientious personality traits are associated with a 15 per cent lower risk of mortality.
Specifically, organised people had a 14 per cent lower risk of death, responsible individuals a 12 per cent lower risk, and those who were hardworking and thorough a 15 per cent lower risk. The study also highlighted that being active, lively, and helpful was linked to reduced mortality, while neurotic, worry-prone traits were associated with a higher risk.
Professor René Mõttus from the University of Edinburgh, a co-author of the study, suggested that personality nuances may be easier to change than broad traits. He stated, “It stands to reason that these personality nuances are easier to change than broad trait domains such as neuroticism or conscientiousness. So, our findings offer hope.”
The extraversion trait of being 'active' was found to be the strongest predictor of lower mortality, with a 27 per cent reduced risk. In contrast, higher neuroticism was linked to higher rates of disease, higher body mass index, and increased smoking. The study noted that conscientious individuals tend to make healthier life choices, such as better health management and higher self-discipline.
Co-author Páraic O’Súilleabháin, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Limerick, commented, “What our research does suggest is that personality could play a supporting role – one that’s underestimated in medicine and public health.” He added that being organised might help people stick to routines that improve health or reflect underlying psychological resilience.
