2010 Volume 31 Issue 4 Pages 449-457
The study examined the relationship between the five-factor model of personality and higher-level competence decline among community-dwelling older adults using a five-year prospective cohort study design. A data set of 283 men and 433 women aged 65 years and over at the baseline (mean age ＝ 71.9±4.9 yr) was used. The three subscales of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (including Instrumental Self-Maintenance, Intellectual Activity, and Social Role) were used to measure higher-level competence decline as dependent variables. The NEO five-factor inventory was administered to assess the “Big Five” personality traits as independent variables : neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated an inverse association of extraversion with decline in instrumental self-maintenance and decline in social role, an inverse association of openness with decline in intellectual activity and decline in social role, and an inverse association of conscientiousness with decline in instrumental self-maintenance. Our results suggest that older individuals with high extraversion are likely to maintain instrumental self-maintenance and a social role, and older individuals with high openness are likely to maintain their intellectual activity and social role, and older individuals with high conscientiousness are likely to retain instrumental self-maintenance.
