Personality traits influence risk of social isolation among older adults

Older adults with certain personality traits, such as extraversion and agreeableness, are less likely to be socially isolated, according to a study.

Researchers used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), with Big Five personality traits assessed at baseline in NHATS rounds 3 (2013) and 4 (2014). Social isolation was defined using a validated 4-item typology and evaluated at 3-, 6-, and 9-year follow-up.

The analysis included 2,672 community-dwelling individuals (mean age 71.1 years, 58 percent female), among whom 2,102 (mean age 72.9 years, 59.6 percent female) were not socially isolated at baseline.

The odds of social isolation were lower among participants with higher extraversion (odds ratio [OR], 0.82, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.73–0.92) and higher agreeableness (OR, 0.70, 95 percent CI, 0.60–0.82). Conversely, the odds were greater among those with higher conscientiousness (OR, 1.07, 95 percent CI, 0.93–1.23).

In longitudinal analyses, extraversion was consistently associated with lower odds of social isolation at 3 years (OR, 0.75, 95 percent CI, 0.63–0.89), independent of demographic and health factors.

None of the personality traits showed a significant association with social isolation at 6 or 9 years.

The findings highlight the importance of factoring in personality in identifying older adults at risk of social isolation as well as the need for tailored interventions to strengthen social connectedness.