Search results

Title: An Alternative to the Search for Single Polymorphisms: Toward Molecular Personality Scales for the Five-Factor Model.
Creator: McCrae, Robert R., Scally, Matthew, Terracciano, Antonio, Abecasis, Gonçalo, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: There is growing evidence that personality traits are affected by many genes, all of which have very small effects. As an alternative to the largely unsuccessful search for individual polymorphisms associated with personality traits, the authors identified large sets of potentially related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and summed them to form molecular personality scales (MPSs) with from 4 to 2,497 SNPs. Scales were derived from two thirds of a large (N = 3,972) sample of individuals...
Show moreThere is growing evidence that personality traits are affected by many genes, all of which have very small effects. As an alternative to the largely unsuccessful search for individual polymorphisms associated with personality traits, the authors identified large sets of potentially related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and summed them to form molecular personality scales (MPSs) with from 4 to 2,497 SNPs. Scales were derived from two thirds of a large (N = 3,972) sample of individuals from Sardinia who completed the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (P. T. Costa, Jr., & R. R. McCrae, 1992) and were assessed in a genomewide association scan. When MPSs were correlated with the phenotype in the remaining one third of the sample, very small but significant associations were found for 4 of the 5e personality factors when the longest scales were examined. These data suggest that MPSs for Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness (but not Extraversion) contain genetic information that can be refined in future studies, and the procedures described here should be applicable to other quantitative traits.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0015, 10.1037/a0020964
Format: Citation

Title: Facets of Personality Linked to Underweight and Overweight.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Sutin, Angelina, McCrae, Robert R., Deiana, Barbara, Ferrucci, Luigi, Schlessinger, David, Uda, Manuela, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: OBJECTIVE: Personality traits underlie maladaptive behaviors, and cognitive and emotional disturbances that contribute to major preventable causes of global disease burden. This study examines detailed personality profiles of underweight, normal, and overweight individuals to provide insights into the causes and treatments of abnormal weight. METHODS: More than half of the population from four towns in Sardinia, Italy (n = 5693; age = 14-94 years; mean +/- standard deviation = 43 +/- 17 years...
Show moreOBJECTIVE: Personality traits underlie maladaptive behaviors, and cognitive and emotional disturbances that contribute to major preventable causes of global disease burden. This study examines detailed personality profiles of underweight, normal, and overweight individuals to provide insights into the causes and treatments of abnormal weight. METHODS: More than half of the population from four towns in Sardinia, Italy (n = 5693; age = 14-94 years; mean +/- standard deviation = 43 +/- 17 years) were assessed on multiple anthropometric measures and 30 facets that comprehensively cover the five major dimensions of personality, using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. RESULTS: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were associated with being underweight and obese, respectively. High Impulsiveness (specifically eating-behavior items) and low Order were associated with body mass index categories of overweight and obese, and with measures of abdominal adiposity (waist and hip circumference). Those scoring in the top 10% of Impulsiveness were about 4 kg heavier than those in the bottom 10%, an effect independent and larger than the FTO genetic variant. Prospective analyses confirmed that Impulsiveness and Order were significant predictors of general and central measures of adiposity assessed 3 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obese individuals have difficulty resisting cravings and lack methodical and organized behaviors that might influence diet and weight control. Although individuals' traits have limited impact on the current obesogenic epidemic, personality traits can improve clinical assessment, suggest points of intervention, and help tailor prevention and treatment approaches.
Show less
Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0033, 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181a2925b
Format: Citation

Title: Five-Factor Model Personality Traits and the Retirement Transition: Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Associations.
Creator: Löckenhoff, Corinna, Terracciano, Antonio, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: The authors examined associations between 5-factor personality traits and retirement in a diverse community sample. Longitudinal analyses (n = 367) compared personality trajectories of participants who remained employed and participants who retired. Personality at baseline did not predict future retirement, but compared to participants who remained employed, retirees increased in Agreeableness and decreased in Activity, a facet of Extraversion. In cross-sectional analyses among retirees (n =...
Show moreThe authors examined associations between 5-factor personality traits and retirement in a diverse community sample. Longitudinal analyses (n = 367) compared personality trajectories of participants who remained employed and participants who retired. Personality at baseline did not predict future retirement, but compared to participants who remained employed, retirees increased in Agreeableness and decreased in Activity, a facet of Extraversion. In cross-sectional analyses among retirees (n = 144), those low in Neuroticism and high in Extraversion reported higher retirement satisfaction, and those high in Extraversion reported higher postretirement activity levels. Findings suggest that the trait perspective contributes to the understanding of the retirement process.
Show less
Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0024, 10.1037/a0015121
Format: Citation

Title: Five-Factor Personality Traits and Age Trajectories of Self-Rated Health: The Role of Question Framing.
Creator: Löckenhoff, Corinna, Terracciano, Antonio, Ferrucci, Luigi, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: We examined the influence of personality traits on mean levels and age trends in 4 single-item measures of self-rated health: general rating, comparison to age peers, comparison to past health, and expectations for future health. Community-dwelling participants (N = 1,683) completed 7,474 self-rated health assessments over a period of up to 19 years. In hierarchical linear modeling analyses, age-associated declines differed across the 4 health items. Across age groups, high Neuroticism and...
Show moreWe examined the influence of personality traits on mean levels and age trends in 4 single-item measures of self-rated health: general rating, comparison to age peers, comparison to past health, and expectations for future health. Community-dwelling participants (N = 1,683) completed 7,474 self-rated health assessments over a period of up to 19 years. In hierarchical linear modeling analyses, age-associated declines differed across the 4 health items. Across age groups, high Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness, low Extraversion, and low Openness were associated with worse health ratings, with notable differences across the 4 health items. Furthermore, high Neuroticism predicted steeper declines in health ratings involving temporal comparisons. We consider theoretical implications regarding the mechanisms behind associations among personality traits and self-rated health.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0011, 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2011.00724.x
Format: Citation

Title: Five-Factor Model Personality Profiles of Drug Users.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Löckenhoff, Corinna, Crum, Rosa, Bienvenu, O. Joseph, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: BACKGROUND: Personality traits are considered risk factors for drug use, and, in turn, the psychoactive substances impact individuals' traits. Furthermore, there is increasing interest in developing treatment approaches that match an individual's personality profile. To advance our knowledge of the role of individual differences in drug use, the present study compares the personality profile of tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin users and non-users using the wide spectrum Five-Factor...
Show moreBACKGROUND: Personality traits are considered risk factors for drug use, and, in turn, the psychoactive substances impact individuals' traits. Furthermore, there is increasing interest in developing treatment approaches that match an individual's personality profile. To advance our knowledge of the role of individual differences in drug use, the present study compares the personality profile of tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin users and non-users using the wide spectrum Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality in a diverse community sample. METHOD: Participants (N = 1,102; mean age = 57) were part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) program in Baltimore, MD, USA. The sample was drawn from a community with a wide range of socio-economic conditions. Personality traits were assessed with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), and psychoactive substance use was assessed with systematic interview. RESULTS: Compared to never smokers, current cigarette smokers score lower on Conscientiousness and higher on Neuroticism. Similar, but more extreme, is the profile of cocaine/heroin users, which score very high on Neuroticism, especially Vulnerability, and very low on Conscientiousness, particularly Competence, Achievement-Striving, and Deliberation. By contrast, marijuana users score high on Openness to Experience, average on Neuroticism, but low on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. CONCLUSION: In addition to confirming high levels of negative affect and impulsive traits, this study highlights the links between drug use and low Conscientiousness. These links provide insight into the etiology of drug use and have implications for public health interventions.
Show less
Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0027, 10.1186/1471-244X-8-22
Format: Citation

Title: Longitudinal Trajectories in Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey Data: Results from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, McCrae, Robert R., Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: We examined developmental trends in personality traits over a 42-year time period by using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (N = 2,359; individuals aged 17-98), collected from 1958 to 2002. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed cumulative mean-level changes averaging about 0.5 SD across adulthood. Scales related to extraversion showed distinct developmental patterns: General Activity declined from age 60 to 90; Restraint increased; Ascendance peaked around age 60;...
Show moreWe examined developmental trends in personality traits over a 42-year time period by using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (N = 2,359; individuals aged 17-98), collected from 1958 to 2002. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed cumulative mean-level changes averaging about 0.5 SD across adulthood. Scales related to extraversion showed distinct developmental patterns: General Activity declined from age 60 to 90; Restraint increased; Ascendance peaked around age 60; and Sociability declined slightly. Scales related to neuroticism showed curvilinear declines up to age 70 and increases thereafter. Scales related to agreeableness and openness changed little; Masculinity declined linearly. We found significant individual variability in change. Although intercepts differed, trajectories were similar for men and women. Attrition and death had no effect on slopes. This study highlights the use of lower order traits in providing a more nuanced picture of developmental change.
Show less
Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0031
Format: Citation

Title: Individual Difference Variables, Affective Differentiation, and the Structures of Affect.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, McCrae, Robert R., Hagemann, Dirk, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: Methodological arguments are usually invoked to explain variations in the structure of affect. Using self-rated affect from Italian samples (N=600), we show that individual difference variables related to affective differentiation can moderate the observed structure. Indices of circumplexity and congruence coefficients to the hypothesized target were used to quantify the observed structures. Results did not support the circumplex model as a universal structure. A circular structure with axes...
Show moreMethodological arguments are usually invoked to explain variations in the structure of affect. Using self-rated affect from Italian samples (N=600), we show that individual difference variables related to affective differentiation can moderate the observed structure. Indices of circumplexity and congruence coefficients to the hypothesized target were used to quantify the observed structures. Results did not support the circumplex model as a universal structure. A circular structure with axes of activation and valence was approximated only among more affectively differentiated groups: students and respondents with high scores on Openness to Feelings and measures of negative emotionality. A different structure, with unipolar Positive Affect and Negative Affect factors, was observed among adults and respondents with low Openness to Feelings and negative emotionality. The observed structure of affect will depend in part on the nature of the sample studied.
Show less
Date Issued: 2003
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0036
Format: Citation

Title: Hierarchical Linear Modeling Analyses of the NEO-PI-R Scales in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, McCrae, Robert R., Brant, Larry, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: The authors examined age trends in the 5 factors and 30 facets assessed by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory in Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging data (N=1,944; 5,027 assessments) collected between 1989 and 2004. Consistent with cross-sectional results, hierarchical linear modeling analyses showed gradual personality changes in adulthood: a decline in Neuroticism up to age 80, stability and then decline in Extraversion, decline in Openness, increase in Agreeableness, and increase in...
Show moreThe authors examined age trends in the 5 factors and 30 facets assessed by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory in Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging data (N=1,944; 5,027 assessments) collected between 1989 and 2004. Consistent with cross-sectional results, hierarchical linear modeling analyses showed gradual personality changes in adulthood: a decline in Neuroticism up to age 80, stability and then decline in Extraversion, decline in Openness, increase in Agreeableness, and increase in Conscientiousness up to age 70. Some facets showed different curves from the factor they define. Birth cohort effects were modest, and there were no consistent Gender x Age interactions. Significant nonnormative changes were found for all 5 factors; they were not explained by attrition but might be due to genetic factors, disease, or life experience.
Show less
Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0030, 10.1037/0882-7974.20.3.493
Format: Citation

Title: High Neuroticism and Low Conscientiousness Are Associated with Interleukin-6.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Deiana, Barbara, Naitza, Silvia, Ferrucci, Luigi, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: BACKGROUND: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness are frequently implicated in health-risk behaviors, such as smoking and overeating, as well as health outcomes, including mortality. Their associations with physiological markers of morbidity and mortality, such as inflammation, are less well documented. The present research examines the association between the five major dimensions of personality and interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine often elevated in patients with...
Show moreBACKGROUND: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness are frequently implicated in health-risk behaviors, such as smoking and overeating, as well as health outcomes, including mortality. Their associations with physiological markers of morbidity and mortality, such as inflammation, are less well documented. The present research examines the association between the five major dimensions of personality and interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine often elevated in patients with chronic morbidity and frailty. METHOD: A population-based sample (n=4923) from four towns in Sardinia, Italy, had their levels of IL-6 measured and completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R. Analyses controlled for factors known to have an effect on IL-6: age; sex; smoking; weight; aspirin use; disease burden. RESULTS: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were both associated with higher levels of IL-6. The findings remained significant after controlling for the relevant covariates. Similar results were found for C-reactive protein, a related marker of chronic inflammation. Further, smoking and weight partially mediated the association between impulsivity-related traits and higher IL-6 levels. Finally, logistic regressions revealed that participants either in the top 10% of the distribution of Neuroticism or the bottom 10% of conscientiousness had an approximately 40% greater risk of exceeding clinically relevant thresholds of IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the literature on personality and self-reported health, individuals high on Neuroticism or low on Conscientiousness show elevated levels of this inflammatory cytokine. Identifying critical medical biomarkers associated with personality may help to elucidate the physiological mechanisms responsible for the observed connections between personality traits and physical health.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0026, 10.1017/S0033291709992029
Format: Citation

Title: Intra-Individual Change in Personality Stability and Age.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, McCrae, Robert R., Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: The stability of individual differences in personality traits is typically examined at the group level with test-retest correlations across two assessments. For 684 subjects (age range 17-76) we computed individual coefficients from three sequential assessments to evaluate intra-individual (i.e., within-person) change in stability over time. For both trait and profile (ipsative) stability, results indicate that intra-individual stability increases up to age 30 and then plateaus. Neither...
Show moreThe stability of individual differences in personality traits is typically examined at the group level with test-retest correlations across two assessments. For 684 subjects (age range 17-76) we computed individual coefficients from three sequential assessments to evaluate intra-individual (i.e., within-person) change in stability over time. For both trait and profile (ipsative) stability, results indicate that intra-individual stability increases up to age 30 and then plateaus. Neither demographic variables (sex, ethnicity, education, and secular trends), nor the standing on the five major dimensions of personality, were predictors of change in trait stability. Contrary to results from studies of adolescents, personality "maturity" was unrelated to personality stability in adulthood. These findings support the notion that personality stability plateaus early in adulthood.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0019, 10.1016/j.jrp.2009.09.006
Format: Citation

Title: Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies for Personality.
Creator: de Moor, Marleen, Costa, Paul, Terracciano, Antonio, Krueger, Robert F., de Geus, Eco, Toshiko, Tanaka, Penninx, Brenda, Esko, Tönu, Madden, P., Derringer, Jaime, Amin, Najaf,...
Show morede Moor, Marleen, Costa, Paul, Terracciano, Antonio, Krueger, Robert F., de Geus, Eco, Toshiko, Tanaka, Penninx, Brenda, Esko, Tönu, Madden, P., Derringer, Jaime, Amin, Najaf, Willemsen, Gonneke, Hottenga, Jouke-Jan, Distel, M., Uda, Manuela, Sanna, Serena, Spinhoven, Philip, Hartman, Catherina, Sullivan, P., Realo, Anu, Allik, Jüri, Heath, Andrew, Pergadia, M., Agrawal, Arpana, Lin, P., Grucza, Richard, Nutile, Teresa, Ciullo, Marina, Rujescu, Dan, Giegling, Ina, Konte, Bettina, Widen, Elisabeth, Cousminer, D., Eriksson, Johan, Palotie, Aarno, Peltonen, L., Luciano, Michelle, Tenesa, A., Davies, Gail, Lopez, Lorna, Hansell, Narelle, Medland, Sarah, Ferrucci, Luigi, Schlessinger, David, Montgomery, G., Wright, Margeret, Aulchenko, Y., Janssens, A., Oostra, Ben A., Metspalu, Andres, Abecasis, Gonçalo, Deary, Ian J., Räikkönen, K., Bierut, Laura, Martin, Nicholas G., van Duijn, Cornelia, Boomsma, Dorret
Show less
Abstract/Description: Personality can be thought of as a set of characteristics that influence people's thoughts, feelings and behavior across a variety of settings. Variation in personality is predictive of many outcomes in life, including mental health. Here we report on a meta-analysis of genome-wide association (GWA) data for personality in 10 discovery samples (17,375 adults) and five in silico replication samples (3294 adults). All participants were of European ancestry. Personality scores for Neuroticism,...
Show morePersonality can be thought of as a set of characteristics that influence people's thoughts, feelings and behavior across a variety of settings. Variation in personality is predictive of many outcomes in life, including mental health. Here we report on a meta-analysis of genome-wide association (GWA) data for personality in 10 discovery samples (17,375 adults) and five in silico replication samples (3294 adults). All participants were of European ancestry. Personality scores for Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were based on the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Genotype data of ≈ 2.4M single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; directly typed and imputed using HapMap data) were available. In the discovery samples, classical association analyses were performed under an additive model followed by meta-analysis using the weighted inverse variance method. Results showed genome-wide significance for Openness to Experience near the RASA1 gene on 5q14.3 (rs1477268 and rs2032794, P=2.8 × 10(-8) and 3.1 × 10(-8)) and for Conscientiousness in the brain-expressed KATNAL2 gene on 18q21.1 (rs2576037, P=4.9 × 10(-8)). We further conducted a gene-based test that confirmed the association of KATNAL2 to Conscientiousness. In silico replication did not, however, show significant associations of the top SNPs with Openness and Conscientiousness, although the direction of effect of the KATNAL2 SNP on Conscientiousness was consistent in all replication samples. Larger scale GWA studies and alternative approaches are required for confirmation of KATNAL2 as a novel gene affecting Conscientiousness.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0010, 10.1038/mp.2010.128
Format: Citation

Title: Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and the Five-Factor Model of Personality.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Deiana, Barbara, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Lakatta, Edward, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: Unhealthy lipid levels are among the leading controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease. To identify the psychological factors associated with dyslipidemia, this study investigates the personality correlates of cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL) and triglycerides. A community-based sample (N=5532) from Sardinia, Italy, had their cholesterol and triglyceride levels assessed and completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R. All analyses controlled for age, sex, BMI...
Show moreUnhealthy lipid levels are among the leading controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease. To identify the psychological factors associated with dyslipidemia, this study investigates the personality correlates of cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL) and triglycerides. A community-based sample (N=5532) from Sardinia, Italy, had their cholesterol and triglyceride levels assessed and completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R. All analyses controlled for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, hypertension, and diabetes. Low Conscientiousness and traits related to impulsivity were associated with lower HDL cholesterol and higher triglycerides. Compared to the lowest 10%, those who scored in top 10% on Impulsivity had a 2.5 times greater risk of exceeding the clinical threshold for elevated triglycerides (OR=2.51, CI=1.56-4.07). In addition, sex moderated the association between trait depression (a component of Neuroticism) and HDL cholesterol, such that trait depression was associated with lower levels of HDL cholesterol in women but not men. When considering the connection between personality and health, unhealthy lipid profiles may be one intermediate biomarker between personality and morbidity and mortality.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0028, 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.01.012
Format: Citation

Title: Personality Predictors of Longevity: Activity, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Löckenhoff, Corinna, Zonderman, Alan, Ferrucci, Luigi, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between personality traits and longevity. METHODS: Using the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, personality traits were assessed in 2359 participants (38% women; age = 17 to 98 years, mean = 50 years) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, starting in 1958. Over the duration of the study, 943 (40%) participants died, on average 18 years after their personality assessment. The association of each trait with longevity was examined by Cox...
Show moreOBJECTIVE: To examine the association between personality traits and longevity. METHODS: Using the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, personality traits were assessed in 2359 participants (38% women; age = 17 to 98 years, mean = 50 years) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, starting in 1958. Over the duration of the study, 943 (40%) participants died, on average 18 years after their personality assessment. The association of each trait with longevity was examined by Cox regression controlling for demographic variables. RESULTS: In preliminary analyses among the deceased, those who scored 1 standard deviation (SD) above the mean on General Activity (a facet of Extraversion), Emotional Stability (low Neuroticism), or Conscientiousness lived on average 2 to 3 years longer than those scoring 1 SD below the mean. Survival analyses on the full sample confirmed the association of General Activity, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness with lower risk of death, such that every 1-SD increase was related to about 13%, 15%, and 27% risk reduction, respectively. The association of personality traits with longevity was largely independent from the influence of smoking and obesity. Personality predictors of longevity did not differ by sex, except for Ascendance (a facet of Extraversion). Emotional Stability was a significant predictor when the analyses were limited to deaths due to cardiovascular disease, with comparable effect sizes for General Activity and Conscientiousness. CONCLUSIONS: In a large sample of generally healthy individuals followed for almost five decades, longevity was associated with being conscientious, emotionally stable, and active.
Show less
Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0029, 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31817b9371
Format: Citation

Title: Personality Traits and Sex Differences in Emotion Recognition Among African Americans and Caucasians.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Merritt, Marcellus, Zonderman, Alan, Evans, Michele
Abstract/Description: This study investigated the role of personality traits and sex differences in emotion recognition. In several studies using samples with mostly young Caucasian and Asian students, Matsumoto et al.1 found strong evidence that recognition of emotional expression in faces was related to Openness to Experience and, to a lesser extent, Conscientiousness. Openness is one of the major dimensions of the five-factor model 1 found strong evidence that recognition of emotional expression in faces was related to Openness to Experience and, to a lesser extent, Conscientiousness. Openness is one of the major dimensions of the five-factor model 2 (FFM) of personality that might play an important role in the recognition of emotion. Open individuals tend to be intellectually curious, imaginative, and sensitive to aesthetics and inner feelings. The present study seeks to replicate Matsumoto et al. and extend the findings to an older African American and an older Caucasian sample. Furthermore, this study tests whether the relation between personality traits and emotion recognition can be replicated with a purely verbal task. Finally, the hypothesis that women tend to be better than men in decoding facial expressions of emotion will be tested.
Show less
Date Issued: 2003
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0038
Format: Citation

Title: Personality Typology in Relation to Muscle Strength.
Creator: Tolea, Magdalena, Terracciano, Antonio, Milaneschi, Yuri, Metter, E. Jeffrey, Ferrucci, Luigi
Abstract/Description: BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity plays a central role in the age-related decline in muscle strength, an important component in the process leading to disability. Personality, a significant determinant of health behaviors including physical activity, could therefore impact muscle strength throughout adulthood and affect the rate of muscle strength decline with aging. Personality typologies combining "high neuroticism" (N ≥ 55), "low extraversion" (E < 45), and "low conscientiousness" (C < 45)...
Show moreBACKGROUND: Physical inactivity plays a central role in the age-related decline in muscle strength, an important component in the process leading to disability. Personality, a significant determinant of health behaviors including physical activity, could therefore impact muscle strength throughout adulthood and affect the rate of muscle strength decline with aging. Personality typologies combining "high neuroticism" (N ≥ 55), "low extraversion" (E < 45), and "low conscientiousness" (C < 45) have been associated with multiple risky health behaviors but have not been investigated with regards to muscle strength. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate associations between individual and combined typologies consisting of high N, low E, and low C and muscle strength, and whether physical activity and body mass index act as mediators. METHOD: This cross-sectional study includes 1,220 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. RESULTS: High N was found among 18%, low E among 31%, and low C among 26% of the sample. High levels of N, particularly when combined with either low E or low C, were associated with lower muscle strength compared with having only one or none of these personality types. Facet analyses suggest an important role for the N components of depression and hostility. Physical activity level appears to partly explain some of these associations. CONCLUSION: Findings provide support for the notion that the typological approach to personality may be useful in identifying specific personality types at risk of low muscle strength and offer the possibility for more targeted prevention and intervention programs.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0008, 10.1007/s12529-011-9166-5
Format: Citation

Title: Personality and Obesity Across the Adult Life Span.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Ferrucci, Luigi, Zonderman, Alan, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: Personality traits contribute to health outcomes, in part through their association with major controllable risk factors, such as obesity. Body weight, in turn, reflects our behaviors and lifestyle and contributes to the way we perceive ourselves and others. In this study, the authors use data from a large (N = 1,988) longitudinal study that spanned more than 50 years to examine how personality traits are associated with multiple measures of adiposity and with fluctuations in body mass index ...
Show morePersonality traits contribute to health outcomes, in part through their association with major controllable risk factors, such as obesity. Body weight, in turn, reflects our behaviors and lifestyle and contributes to the way we perceive ourselves and others. In this study, the authors use data from a large (N = 1,988) longitudinal study that spanned more than 50 years to examine how personality traits are associated with multiple measures of adiposity and with fluctuations in body mass index (BMI). Using 14,531 anthropometric assessments, the authors modeled the trajectory of BMI across adulthood and tested whether personality predicted its rate of change. Measured concurrently, participants higher on Neuroticism or Extraversion or lower on Conscientiousness had higher BMI; these associations replicated across body fat, waist, and hip circumference. The strongest association was found for the impulsivity facet: Participants who scored in the top 10% of impulsivity weighed, on average, 11Kg more than those in the bottom 10%. Longitudinally, high Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness, and the facets of these traits related to difficulty with impulse control, were associated with weight fluctuations, measured as the variability in weight over time. Finally, low Agreeableness and impulsivity-related traits predicted a greater increase in BMI across the adult life span. BMI was mostly unrelated to change in personality traits. Personality traits are defined by cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns that likely contribute to unhealthy weight and difficulties with weight management. Such associations may elucidate the role of personality traits in disease progression and may help to design more effective interventions.
Show less
Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0016, 10.1037/a0024286
Format: Citation

Title: Personality and Metabolic Syndrome.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Costa, Paul, Uda, Manuela, Ferrucci, Luigi, Schlessinger, David, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has paralleled the sharp increase in obesity. Given its tremendous physical, emotional, and financial burden, it is of critical importance to identify who is most at risk and the potential points of intervention. Psychological traits, in addition to physiological and social risk factors, may contribute to metabolic syndrome. The objective of the present research is to test whether personality traits are associated with metabolic syndrome in a large...
Show moreThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome has paralleled the sharp increase in obesity. Given its tremendous physical, emotional, and financial burden, it is of critical importance to identify who is most at risk and the potential points of intervention. Psychological traits, in addition to physiological and social risk factors, may contribute to metabolic syndrome. The objective of the present research is to test whether personality traits are associated with metabolic syndrome in a large community sample. Participants (N = 5,662) from Sardinia, Italy, completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R, and were assessed on all components of metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose). Logistic regressions were used to predict metabolic syndrome from personality traits, controlling for age, sex, education, and current smoking status. Among adults over age 45 (n = 2,419), Neuroticism and low Agreeableness were associated with metabolic syndrome, whereas high Conscientiousness was protective. Individuals who scored in the top 10% on Conscientiousness were approximately 40% less likely to have metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41-0.92), whereas those who scored in the lowest 10% on Agreeableness were 50% more likely to have it (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.09-2.16). At the facet level, traits related to impulsivity and hostility were the most strongly associated with metabolic syndrome. The present research indicates that those with fewer psychological resources are more vulnerable to metabolic syndrome and suggests a psychological component to other established risk factors.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0020, 10.1007/s11357-010-9153-9
Format: Citation

Title: Personality, Metabolic Rate and Aerobic Capacity.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Schrack, Jennifer, Sutin, Angelina, Chan, Wayne, Simonsick, Eleanor M., Ferrucci, Luigi
Abstract/Description: Personality traits and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults are reliable predictors of health and longevity. We examined the association between personality traits and energy expenditure at rest (basal metabolic rate) and during normal and maximal sustained walking. Personality traits and oxygen (VO(2)) consumption were assessed in 642 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Results indicate that personality traits were mostly unrelated to resting metabolic rate and...
Show morePersonality traits and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults are reliable predictors of health and longevity. We examined the association between personality traits and energy expenditure at rest (basal metabolic rate) and during normal and maximal sustained walking. Personality traits and oxygen (VO(2)) consumption were assessed in 642 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Results indicate that personality traits were mostly unrelated to resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure at normal walking pace. However, those who scored lower on neuroticism (r = -0.12) and higher on extraversion (r = 0.11), openness (r = 0.13), and conscientiousness (r = 0.09) had significantly higher energy expenditure at peak walking pace. In addition to greater aerobic capacity, individuals with a more resilient personality profile walked faster and were more efficient in that they required less energy per meter walked. The associations between personality and energy expenditure were not moderated by age or sex, but were in part explained by the proportion of fat mass. In conclusion, differences in personality may matter the most during more challenging activities that require cardiorespiratory fitness. These findings suggest potential pathways that link personality to health outcomes, such as obesity and longevity.
Show less
Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0011, 10.1371/journal.pone.0054746
Format: Citation

Title: Personality and Career Success: Concurrent and Longitudinal Relations.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Costa, Paul, Miech, Richard, Eaton, William W.
Abstract/Description: The present research addresses the dynamic transaction between extrinsic (occupational prestige, income) and intrinsic (job satisfaction) career success and the Five-Factor Model of personality. Participants (N = 731) completed a comprehensive measure of personality and reported their job title, annual income, and job satisfaction; a subset of these participants (n = 302) provided the same information approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently, emotionally stable and conscientious...
Show moreThe present research addresses the dynamic transaction between extrinsic (occupational prestige, income) and intrinsic (job satisfaction) career success and the Five-Factor Model of personality. Participants (N = 731) completed a comprehensive measure of personality and reported their job title, annual income, and job satisfaction; a subset of these participants (n = 302) provided the same information approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently, emotionally stable and conscientious participants reported higher incomes and job satisfaction. Longitudinal analyses revealed that, among younger participants, higher income at baseline predicted decreases in Neuroticism and baseline Extraversion predicted increases in income across the 10 years. Results suggest that the mutual influence of career success and personality is limited to income and occurs early in the career.
Show less
Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0036, 10.1002/per.704
Format: Citation

Title: Associations Between Personality Traits, Physical Activity Level, and Muscle Strength.
Creator: Tolea, Magdalena, Terracciano, Antonio, Simonsick, Eleanor M., Metter, E. Jeffrey, Costa, Paul, Ferrucci, Luigi
Abstract/Description: Associations among personality as measured by the Five Factor Model, physical activity, and muscle strength were assessed using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (N = 1220, age: mean = 58, SD = 16). General linear modeling with adjustment for age, sex, race, and body mass index, and bootstrapping for mediation were used. We found neuroticism and most of its facets to negatively correlate with strength. The extraversion domain and its facets of warmth, activity, and positive...
Show moreAssociations among personality as measured by the Five Factor Model, physical activity, and muscle strength were assessed using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (N = 1220, age: mean = 58, SD = 16). General linear modeling with adjustment for age, sex, race, and body mass index, and bootstrapping for mediation were used. We found neuroticism and most of its facets to negatively correlate with strength. The extraversion domain and its facets of warmth, activity, and positive-emotions were positively correlated with strength, independent of covariates. Mediation analysis results suggest that these associations are partly explained by physical activity level. Findings extend the evidence of an association between personality and physical function to its strength component and indicate health behavior as an important pathway.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0009, 10.1016/j.jrp.2012.02.002
Format: Citation

Title: Plasma BDNF Concentration, Val66Met Genetic Variant and Depression-Related Personality Traits.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Martin, B., Ansari, D., Tanaka, Toshiko, Ferrucci, Luigi, Maudsley, S., Mattson, M., Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, and BDNF plasma and serum levels have been associated with depression, Alzheimer's disease, and other psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. In a relatively large community sample, drawn from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), we examine whether BDNF plasma concentration is associated with the Val66Met functional polymorphism of the BDNF gene (n = 335) and with depression-related...
Show moreBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, and BDNF plasma and serum levels have been associated with depression, Alzheimer's disease, and other psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. In a relatively large community sample, drawn from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), we examine whether BDNF plasma concentration is associated with the Val66Met functional polymorphism of the BDNF gene (n = 335) and with depression-related personality traits assessed with the NEO-PI-R (n = 391). Plasma concentration of BDNF was not associated with the Val66Met variant in either men or women. However, in men, but not in women, BDNF plasma level was associated with personality traits linked to depression. Contrary to the notion that low BDNF is associated with negative outcomes, we found lower plasma levels in men who score lower on depression and vulnerability to stress (two facets of Neuroticism) and higher on Conscientiousness and Extraversion. These findings challenge the prevailing hypothesis that lower peripheral levels of BDNF are a marker of depression.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0016, 10.1111/j.1601-183X.2010.00579.x
Format: Citation

Title: Reciprocal Influences of Personality and Job Characteristics Across Middle Adulthood.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: The present research uses an economically diverse, middle-aged sample to examine the concurrent and longitudinal interplay between personality and occupational experiences. Using the Five-Factor Model of personality and the Demand-Control Model of the occupational environment as guiding frameworks, participants (N=722) reported on their personality, job characteristics, and occupational history; a subset (n=297) made the same ratings approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently,...
Show moreThe present research uses an economically diverse, middle-aged sample to examine the concurrent and longitudinal interplay between personality and occupational experiences. Using the Five-Factor Model of personality and the Demand-Control Model of the occupational environment as guiding frameworks, participants (N=722) reported on their personality, job characteristics, and occupational history; a subset (n=297) made the same ratings approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently, emotionally stable, extraverted, open, and conscientious participants reported jobs with greater decision-making latitude, whereas disagreeable participants had more physically demanding and dangerous jobs. Longitudinal cross-lagged analyses revealed that personality was associated with changes in decision latitude, hazardous working conditions, and physical demands. None of the job characteristics predicted change in personality at the factor level. Thus, personality shaped occupational experiences, but occupational experiences had minimal impact on personality. Support for the Five-Factor Theory perspective and implications for environmental approaches to personality development are discussed.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0030, 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00615.x
Format: Citation

Title: Smoking and the Five-Factor Model of Personality.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: AIMS: Investigating the association between personality traits and smoking status using a comprehensive model of personality, the Five-Factor Model (FFM). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. Setting Baltimore, MD, USA. Participants Adult elderly Americans (n = 1638). MEASUREMENTS: A self-administered survey on cigarette smoking and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). FINDINGS: Current smokers scored higher than never smokers on neuroticism and lower on agreeableness and...
Show moreAIMS: Investigating the association between personality traits and smoking status using a comprehensive model of personality, the Five-Factor Model (FFM). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. Setting Baltimore, MD, USA. Participants Adult elderly Americans (n = 1638). MEASUREMENTS: A self-administered survey on cigarette smoking and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). FINDINGS: Current smokers scored higher than never smokers on neuroticism and lower on agreeableness and conscientiousness; former smokers scored intermediate on these higher-order dimensions. Neuroticism was related to smoking particularly among individuals with low conscientiousness, as indicated by an interaction effect between the two factors. There were no differences on extraversion and openness to experience. At the lower-order facet level, smokers were characterized by inability to resist cravings (high impulsiveness), search for stimulation (high excitement-seeking), lack of perseverance (low self-discipline) and lack of careful consideration of the consequences of their actions (low deliberation). CONCLUSIONS: At the higher-order factor level, this study replicates and extends previous studies using a comprehensive model of personality (FFM). The greater specificity provided by the facet-level analysis appears to explain some of the conflicting results in the literature, and the use of an older sample provides insight especially into the former smokers group. Personality research may lead to a deeper understanding of cigarette smoking and can potentially contribute to policies and programs of smoking prevention and cessation.
Show less
Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0039, 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00687.x
Format: Citation

Title: Teeth Grinding: Is Emotional Stability Related to Bruxism?.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Ferrucci, Luigi, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: This study examines the association between personality traits and bruxism, the repetitive grinding or clenching of teeth. Community-dwelling participants (N = 470) had a comprehensive oral examination by a dentist and completed a dental history and personality questionnaires. Consistent with the literature on state anxiety and depression as antecedents of bruxism, Neuroticism-related traits were associated with self-reported teeth grinding. These traits were also associated with other oral...
Show moreThis study examines the association between personality traits and bruxism, the repetitive grinding or clenching of teeth. Community-dwelling participants (N = 470) had a comprehensive oral examination by a dentist and completed a dental history and personality questionnaires. Consistent with the literature on state anxiety and depression as antecedents of bruxism, Neuroticism-related traits were associated with self-reported teeth grinding. These traits were also associated with other oral complaints often associated with anxiety (jaw clicks, difficulty chewing food, and dry mouth), but not with more general oral health complaints (unhealthy gums, bleeding gums, and canker sores) or with dentist-assessed occlusal wear or tongue indentations. This study provides evidence for the association between Neuroticism and bruxism and other stress-related oral health symptoms.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0027, 10.1016/j.jrp.2010.03.006
Format: Citation

Title: Sex-Specific Correlates of Walking Speed in a Wide Age-Ranged Population.
Creator: Tolea, Magdalena, Costa, Paul, Terracciano, Antonio, Griswold, Michael, Simonsick, Eleanor M., Najjar, Samer, Scuteri, Angelo, Deiana, Barbara, Orrù, Marco, Masala, Marco, Uda,...
Show moreTolea, Magdalena, Costa, Paul, Terracciano, Antonio, Griswold, Michael, Simonsick, Eleanor M., Najjar, Samer, Scuteri, Angelo, Deiana, Barbara, Orrù, Marco, Masala, Marco, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Ferrucci, Luigi
Show less
Abstract/Description: The goals of this cross-sectional study were to explore correlates of walking speed in a large wide age-ranged population and to identify factors affecting lower walking speed at older ages. Participants were 3,872 community-dwelling adults in the first follow-up of the SardiNIA study who completed a 4-m walking test. Sex-specific correlates of walking speed included marital status, height, waist circumference, pulse wave velocity, comorbidity, subjective health, strength, and personality....
Show moreThe goals of this cross-sectional study were to explore correlates of walking speed in a large wide age-ranged population and to identify factors affecting lower walking speed at older ages. Participants were 3,872 community-dwelling adults in the first follow-up of the SardiNIA study who completed a 4-m walking test. Sex-specific correlates of walking speed included marital status, height, waist circumference, pulse wave velocity, comorbidity, subjective health, strength, and personality. Effect modifiers of the age-walking speed association included extraversion (<55 >years, p = .019) and education (<55 >years, p = .021; > or =55 years, p = .012) in women, and openness (<55 >years, p = .005), waist circumference (<55 >years, p = .010), and subjective health (<55 >years, p = .014) in men. The strong impact of personality suggests that certain personality traits may be associated with behaviors that affect physical performance and condition the reduced mobility mostly at younger ages. If these patterns are confirmed in longitudinal studies, personality may be an important target for prevention.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0020, 10.1093/geronb/gbp130
Format: Citation

Title: The Validity and Structure of Culture-Level Personality Scores: Data from Ratings of Young Adolescents.
Creator: McCrae, Robert R., Terracciano, Antonio, De Fruyt, Filip, De Bolle, Marleen, Gelfand, Michele J., Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: We examined properties of culture-level personality traits in ratings of targets (N=5,109) ages 12 to 17 in 24 cultures. Aggregate scores were generalizable across gender, age, and relationship groups and showed convergence with culture-level scores from previous studies of self-reports and observer ratings of adults, but they were unrelated to national character stereotypes. Trait profiles also showed cross-study agreement within most cultures, 8 of which had not previously been studied....
Show moreWe examined properties of culture-level personality traits in ratings of targets (N=5,109) ages 12 to 17 in 24 cultures. Aggregate scores were generalizable across gender, age, and relationship groups and showed convergence with culture-level scores from previous studies of self-reports and observer ratings of adults, but they were unrelated to national character stereotypes. Trait profiles also showed cross-study agreement within most cultures, 8 of which had not previously been studied. Multidimensional scaling showed that Western and non-Western cultures clustered along a dimension related to Extraversion. A culture-level factor analysis replicated earlier findings of a broad Extraversion factor but generally resembled the factor structure found in individuals. Continued analysis of aggregate personality scores is warranted.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0017, 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00634.x
Format: Citation

Title: The personality domains and styles of the five-factor model are related to incident depression in Medicare recipients aged 65 to 100.
Creator: Weiss, Alexander, Sutin, Angelina, Duberstein, Paul Raphael, Friedman, Bruce, Bagby, R. Michael, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: OBJECTIVES: Few prospective studies have examined personality and depression in older adults. The authors investigated whether the Five-Factor Model of personality traits-Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness-and trait combinations (styles) are related to incident major or minor depression. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Prospective data were gathered on a community sample of 512 older adults with disability and a history of significant health care...
Show moreOBJECTIVES: Few prospective studies have examined personality and depression in older adults. The authors investigated whether the Five-Factor Model of personality traits-Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness-and trait combinations (styles) are related to incident major or minor depression. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Prospective data were gathered on a community sample of 512 older adults with disability and a history of significant health care utilization who were enrolled in a Medicare Demonstration Project. MEASUREMENTS: Depression and personality traits and styles were assessed at baseline; depression was assessed again at approximately 12 and 22 months. DESIGN: Participants who developed incident major depression were compared with those free of depression at all three assessments. Similar analyses were done for minor depression. RESULTS: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were risk factors for both major and minor depression. Combinations of high Neuroticism with low or high Extraversion or high Openness conferred risk for major depression. Other novel findings for major depression revealed new trait combinations of low Conscientiousness with low or high Extraversion, high Openness, or low Agreeableness. Three trait combinations, all involving low Conscientiousness, predicted risk for minor depression: high Neuroticism, high Agreeableness, and low Openness. CONCLUSION: The present findings highlight the importance of examining combinations of personality traits or personality styles when identifying those who are most at-risk for geriatric depression. Since other personality domains may modify the risk related to high Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness, the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression could be greatly improved by assessing older patients not only on all five domains of personality but in terms of their combinations.
Show less
Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0035
Format: Citation

Title: Variants of the Serotonin Transporter Gene and NEO-PI-R Neuroticism: No Association in the BLSA and SardiNIA Samples.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Balaci, Lenuta, Thayer, Jason, Scally, Matthew, Kokinos, Sarah, Ferrucci, Luigi, Tanaka, Toshiko, Zonderman, Alan, Sanna, Serena, Olla, Nazario, Zuncheddu,...
Show moreTerracciano, Antonio, Balaci, Lenuta, Thayer, Jason, Scally, Matthew, Kokinos, Sarah, Ferrucci, Luigi, Tanaka, Toshiko, Zonderman, Alan, Sanna, Serena, Olla, Nazario, Zuncheddu, Maria, Naitza, Silvia, Busonero, Fabio, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Abecasis, Gonçalo, Costa, Paul
Show less
Abstract/Description: The polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) is by far the most studied variant hypothesized to influence Neuroticism-related personality traits. The results of previous studies have been mixed and appear moderated by the personality questionnaire used. Studies that used the TCI to assess Harm Avoidance or the EPQ to assess Neuroticism have found no association with the 5-HTTLPR. However, studies that used the NEO-PI-R or related instruments (NEO-PI, NEO-FFI)...
Show moreThe polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) is by far the most studied variant hypothesized to influence Neuroticism-related personality traits. The results of previous studies have been mixed and appear moderated by the personality questionnaire used. Studies that used the TCI to assess Harm Avoidance or the EPQ to assess Neuroticism have found no association with the 5-HTTLPR. However, studies that used the NEO-PI-R or related instruments (NEO-PI, NEO-FFI) to measure Neuroticism have found some evidence of association. This study examines the association of variants in the serotonin transporter gene in a sample from a genetically isolated population within Sardinia (Italy) that is several times larger than previous samples that used the NEO-PI-R (N = 3,913). The association was also tested in a sample (N = 548) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), in which repeated NEO-PI-R assessments were obtained. In the SardiNIA sample, we found no significant association of the 5-HTTLPR genotypes with Neuroticism or its facets (Anxiety, Angry-Hostility, Depression, Self-Consciousness, Impulsiveness, and Vulnerability). In the BLSA sample, we found lower scores on Neuroticism traits for the heterozygous group, which is inconsistent with previous studies. We also examined eight SNPs in the SardiNIA (N = 3,972) and nine SNPs in the BLSA (N = 1,182) that map within or near the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), and found no association. Along with other large studies that used different phenotypic measures and found no association, this study substantially increases the evidence against a link between 5-HTT variants and Neuroticism-related traits.
Show less
Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_geriatrics_faculty_publications-0022, 10.1002/ajmg.b.30932
Format: Citation

Department of Geriatrics (18)	+ -
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine (10)	+ -

Medical sciences (28)	+ -
Psychology (28)	+ -
Social aspects (28)	+ -
Psychiatry (27)	+ -
Mental health (14)	+ -

Social sciences (9)	+ -
Behavior (7)	+ -
Geriatrics (7)	+ -
Social psychiatry (7)	+ -
Diseases (5)	+ -
Mental illness (5)	+ -
Physiology (5)	+ -
Genetics (4)	+ -
Genomics (4)	+ -
Metabolism (4)	+ -
Diagnosis, Laboratory (3)	+ -
Disorders (3)	+ -
Equipment and supplies (3)	+ -
Pathology (3)	+ -
Symptoms (3)	+ -
Therapeutics (3)	+ -
Associations, institutions, etc. (2)	+ -
Biochemistry (2)	+ -
Civilization (2)	+ -
Drug addiction (2)	+ -
Economics (2)	+ -
Exercise (2)	+ -
Netherlands (2)	+ -

Terracciano, Antonio (25)	+ -
Costa, Paul (24)	+ -
Ferrucci, Luigi (14)	+ -
Sutin, Angelina (10)	+ -
McCrae, Robert R. (7)	+ -

Schlessinger, David (7)	+ -
Uda, Manuela (7)	+ -
Deiana, Barbara (4)	+ -
Löckenhoff, Corinna (4)	+ -
Zonderman, Alan (4)	+ -
Abecasis, Gonçalo (3)	+ -
Simonsick, Eleanor M. (3)	+ -
Tolea, Magdalena (3)	+ -
Metter, E. Jeffrey (2)	+ -
Naitza, Silvia (2)	+ -
Sanna, Serena (2)	+ -
Scally, Matthew (2)	+ -
Tanaka, Toshiko (2)	+ -
Agrawal, Arpana (1)	+ -
Allik, Jüri (1)	+ -
Amin, Najaf (1)	+ -
Ansari, D. (1)	+ -
Aulchenko, Y. (1)	+ -
Bagby, R. Michael (1)	+ -
Balaci, Lenuta (1)	+ -
Bienvenu, O. Joseph (1)	+ -
Bierut, Laura (1)	+ -
Boomsma, Dorret (1)	+ -
Brant, Larry (1)	+ -
Busonero, Fabio (1)	+ -

Search In

Sort Results By:

Narrow results by:

Collection

Topical Subject

Genre

Type of Resource

Language

Creator

Found In

Owner