Personality, chronic medical morbidity, and health-related quality of life among older persons

Author(s): Jelicic, M., Ormel, J.

Journal/Book: Health Psychol. 1997; 16: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 539-546.

Abstract: This article examines the main and moderating effects of 3 personality characteristics on the association between chronic medical morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a large (N = 5,279) community-based older sample. Reasonably high unique contributions of neuroticism, mastery, and self-efficacy to HRQL were found. The additional amounts of variance explained beyond and above medical morbidity and age vary from about 4% (bodily pain) to above 30% (mental health). Little empirical evidence was found for the moderating effects of personality. In conclusion, personality characteristics such as neuroticism, mastery, and self-efficacy influence the reported levels of HRQL. The extent to which this is due to an influence of personality on true versus perceived levels of HRQL is unclear.

Note: Article Kempen GIJM, Univ Groningen, Sch Med, No Ctr Healthcare Res, A Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713 AV Groningen, NETHERLANDS

Keyword(s): personality; chronic morbidity; health-related quality of life; neuroticism; mastery; self-efficacy; 5-FACTOR MODEL; NEUROTICISM; LIMITATIONS; SCALE

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