Personality does not predict stressful event occurrence in elderly persons

This study investigates associations between personality characteristics and event occurrence in old age. The sample included 83 individuals (mean age 71.9, SD = 7.1; 55.4% females), randomly selected from the participants of a community survey among elderly persons. Several personality measures, obtained during the survey, were used to predict the occurrence of stressful life events a few years later. None of the personality characteristics was significantly associated with later event occurrence, neither with respect to the overall number of negative or positive events, nor with respect to only interpersonal events. The results indicate lack of event production in old age, which may indicate that, compared to younger age groups, elderly persons are less actively involved in shaping their own experiences.

Keywords: personality, life events, elderly

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. A.J. Oldehinkel, Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Phone: +31 50 361 4550; Fax: +31 50 361 9722; Email:

It is well established that psychologically vulnerable elderly people (e.g., as characterized by high neuroticism) are more likely to develop common mental disorders than are less vulnerable ones - for example, Lyness, Duberstein, King, Cox and Caine, 1998, and Oldehinkel, Bouhuys, Brilman, and Ormel, 2001. Part of this increased likelihood is probably due to a heightened sensitivity to stressful life events - for example, Kendler et al., 1995; Ormel, Oldehinkel, and Brilman, 2001. Another part of the explanation could be that vulnerable people experience more stressful events than do others. People not only react to stress, but also shape and select their experiences (event production). A number of studies support the hypothesis that exposure to stressful events is codetermined by personality features (e.g., Magnus, Diener, Fujita, & Pavot, 1993; Ormel & Wohlfarth, 1991; Poulton & Andrews, 1992).

With a few notable exceptions (e.g., Zautra, Finch, Reich, & Guarnaccia, 1991), most studies have focused on predictors of exposure to stressful events in adult populations, not in older age groups. There are reasons to doubt whether elderly people shape their experiences to the same extent as younger ones do. In the first place, events in old age differ from those earlier in life, in that they more often concern health-related matters and loss of loved ones (Brilman & Ormel, 2001). In addition to that, people's participation in social activities generally declines as they grow older. This can be a consequence of more restrictive circumstances (e.g., low income, reduced functional capacity, no driver's licence), but sociocultural expectations concerning activities of elderly people may play a role as well: negative stereotypes of older persons as inactive, bored and unhappy, could lead them to reduce their social activity (Carstensen, 1991). On the other hand, the elderly population has become more active in the past decades, at least in western countries (Tokarski, 1993). Due to increased numbers of early retired people, life expectancy, and financial resources; many elderly persons have more leisure time than they used to, and more money to spend on all kinds of activities. Furthermore, they are increasingly encouraged to keep participating in all aspects of society, including politics, education and cultural organizations. Hence, the roles of these restrictions and expectations may not be as great as formerly.

We investigated the role of personality characteristics as predictors of event occurrence in old age, using a prospective study design and an investigator-based measure of life-event occurrence.

METHOD

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 83 elderly persons, randomly selected from the participants of a community survey of 5279 persons aged 57 years or more, held in 1993 (Ormel et al., 1998). Between 1996 and 1998, 102 respondents were approached for the present study, of whom 83 (81.4%) agreed to participate (mean age at follow-up = 71.9, SD = 7.1; 55.4% females).

MEASURES

The baseline survey included a range of personality indicators. Neuroticism (range 0-12) and extraversion (range 0-12) were measured by subscales of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (Eysenck, Eysenck, & Barrett, 1985). The extent to which the respondents regarded their lives as being under their own control was assessed by a seven-item mastery scale (range 7-35) developed by Pearlin and Schooler (1978). The 16-item Self-Efficacy Scale of Sherer and Maddux (1982, Bosscher & Smit, 1998; range 16-80) was used to measure feelings of competence. Finally, interpersonal sensitivity was measured by the 36-item Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM; Boyce & Parker, 1989; range 36-144). The IPSM was administered in January 1995 instead of during the baseline survey in 1993.

For comparison's sake, we also examined the predictive value of some non personality variables, that is, social support and health-related variables. Social support was measured with the Social Support List (Kempen & Van Eijck, 1995). The presence of chronic somatic diseases in the year before the interview was assessed by means of a list of 18 diseases concerning the respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, endocrinological, neurological, and dermatological systems, the kidneys, prostatic gland, locomotor apparatus and neoplasms. Diseases were included only if the respondents used medication or were treated by a physician. Subjective health was measured with the Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Short-Form General Health Survey (Stewart, Hays, & Ware, 1988), and impairments in hearing, vision, and mobility with lists developed by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (McWhinnie, 1979).