The No. 1 personality trait linked to a long life
No, optimism is not it
Longevity Hound
October 03, 2023
Commercial pilots — typically a group very high in this personality trait
What I'm reading: An article on CNBC that came out a few days ago, with the provocative headline, The No. 1 personality trait linked to a long life.
If you've been interested in longevity for a while, you might suppose this personality trait to be optimism, a positive attitude. After all, cheerfulness seems to be a common response when centenarians are asked what's kept them alive so long.
But it ain’t optimism. Dr. David Watson, professor emeritus of psychology at Notre Dame University, says the effect of a positive attitude on longevity is overstated. Rather, he believes the number 1 personality trait for longevity is conscientiousness — being organized, responsible, thoughtful, and productive.
The reason? "Conscientious people don’t do stupid things," says Watson, "so they have lower rates of accidents and better health behaviors."
I wondered whether this is simply Watson's opinion, or if there's actual research to back up this link between conscientiousness and longevity. Turns out there's plenty of such research, and it backs up what Watson says — conscientiousness is in fact the number one personality trait linked to longevity.
But what to do if you're not very conscientious? What if you are full-on disorganized, irresponsible, thoughtless, and unproductive? The good news is you can increase your conscientiousness in time. In Watson's words:
"The basic idea is if you want to increase your conscientiousness, act more conscientious, and the attitude follows the behavior. Try to be on time for things. Follow through on things."
In other words, stay away from alcohol, eat your vegetables, get your sleep, and do some exercise, every day. In time, this regimen will probably turn you into a conscientious person. And even if not, it’s sure to be good for your health and longevity via a more direct route.