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Self-reported and mother-rated personality traits at age 16 are associated with cognitive function measured concurrently and 30 years later

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2021

Angelina R. Sutin Open the ORCID record for Angelina R. Sutin [Opens in a new window] ,
Yannick Stephan ,
Martina Luchetti ,
Damaris Aschwanden ,
Amanda A. Sesker ,
Páraic S. O'Súilleabháin  and
Antonio Terracciano
Angelina R. Sutin*
Affiliation:
Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Yannick Stephan
Affiliation:
Euromov, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
Martina Luchetti
Affiliation:
Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Damaris Aschwanden
Affiliation:
Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Amanda A. Sesker
Affiliation:
Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Páraic S. O'Súilleabháin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Antonio Terracciano
Affiliation:
Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Angelina R. Sutin, E-mail: angelina.sutin@med.fsu.edu
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Abstract

Background

Models of personality and health suggest that personality contributes to health outcomes across adulthood. Personality traits, such as neuroticism and conscientiousness, have long-term predictive power for cognitive impairment in older adulthood, a critical health outcome. Less is known about whether personality measured earlier in life is also associated with cognition across adulthood prior to dementia.

Methods

Using data from the British Cohort Study 1970 (N = 4218; 58% female), the current research examined the relation between self-reported and mother-rated personality at age 16 and cognitive function concurrently at age 16 and cognitive function measured 30 years later at age 46, and whether these traits mediate the relation between childhood social class and midlife cognition.

Results

Self-reported and mother-rated conscientiousness at age 16 were each associated with every cognitive measure at age 16 and most measures at age 46. Self-reported openness was likewise associated with better cognitive performance on all tasks at age 16 and prospectively predicted age 46 performance (mothers did not rate openness). Mother-rated agreeableness, but not self-reported, was associated with better cognitive performance at both time points. Adolescent personality mediated the relation between childhood social class and midlife cognitive function.

Conclusions

The current study advances personality and cognition by showing that (1) adolescent personality predicts midlife cognition 30 years later, (2) both self-reports and mother-ratings are important sources of information on personality associated with midlife cognition, and (3) adolescent personality may be one pathway through which the early life socioeconomic environment is associated with midlife cognition.

Keywords

Adolescent personalitylifespanlongitudinalmidlife cognitionobserver ratings
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 52 , Issue 16 , December 2022 , pp. 3854 - 3864
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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