How personality traits affect health and lifespan in adults
Official title: Personality and Mortality Risk in Adulthood: Behavioral and Physiological Mechanisms
Funded at West Virginia University · NIH-10645631 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different personality traits, like being organized or anxious, can affect your health and how long you live, especially in older adults, to find ways to help people live healthier, longer lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $150,889 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG081592-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10645631 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older, particularly those who may exhibit varying personality traits linked to health behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not fall within the adult age range or who have no significant personality traits affecting their health behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between personality traits and health outcomes, particularly focusing on how these traits influence behaviors that affect longevity. It aims to identify the mechanisms through which personality impacts health, such as health behaviors and physiological functions. By examining traits like neuroticism and conscientiousness, the study seeks to understand their relationship with risky behaviors and health deterioration in older adults. The findings could help in developing targeted interventions to improve health and extend lifespan.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to interventions that help individuals adopt healthier behaviors and improve their longevity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between personality traits and health outcomes, indicating that this approach is grounded in established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
West Virginia University
Morgantown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turiano, Nicholas Andrew — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Turiano, Nicholas Andrew
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.