Personality and falls: evidence from three samples.

OBJECTIVES

Falls are a critical public health issue, and there is need to better understand factors associated with risk of falls. This study examined the association between personality traits and risk of recent and incident falls.

METHODS

Participants were older individuals (age range: 60-104 years; N > 16,000) from three longitudinal samples. Each sample included baseline measures of personality traits, covariates (demographic factors) and mediators (disease burden, physical activity, limitations in activities of daily living [ADL], and grip strength). Falls were reported at baseline and over 9-17 years of follow-up.

RESULTS

Across the three samples and meta-analyses, higher neuroticism was associated with a greater likelihood of having fallen recently at baseline (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18-1.32, p < .001) and an increased risk of incident falls at follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.07-1.12, p < .001). Higher conscientiousness was related to a reduced likelihood of recent falls (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.78-0.90, p < .001) and a decreased risk of incident falls (HR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.90-0.96, p < .001). Higher extraversion (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.79-0.98, p < .05) and openness (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.89-0.97, p < .01) were related to a lower likelihood of having fallen recently but were not associated with incident falls. Agreeableness was unrelated to recent or incident falls. The association between personality and fall risk was partially mediated by disease burden, physical activity, ADL limitations, and grip strength.

DISCUSSION: Personality has replicable associations with fall risk. Similar to other geriatric syndromes, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness are risk factors for falls.