Patient personality and mortality: A 4-year prospective examination of chronic renal insufficiency
Abstract
The present study examined the role of personality as a predictor of mortality among patients with chronic renal insufficiency. A prospective evaluation of the influence of personality on patient survival was conducted over an average 49-month period. Cox regression was used to evaluate the effects of 5 dimensions of personality in a sample of 174 patients (100 male and 74 female). At follow-up, 49 patients had died. Significant demographic and clinical predictors of survival included age, diabetic status, and hemoglobin level. After these predictors were controlled for, 2 personality traits, conscientiousness and neuroticism, predicted patient mortality. Patients with high neuroticism scores had a 37.5% higher estimated mortality rate. Patients with low conscientiousness scores had a 36.4% increased mortality rate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)
Suggested Citation
Alan J. Christensen, Shawna L. Ehlers, John S. Wiebe, Patricia J. Moran, Katherine Raichle, Karin Ferneyhough, and William J. Lawton. "Patient personality and mortality: A 4-year prospective examination of chronic renal insufficiency" Health Psychology 21.4 (2002): 315-320.