Invited Commentary: Personality Phenotype and Mortality-New Avenues in Genetic, Social, and Clinical Epidemiology

In this issue of the Journal, Jokela et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2013; 178(5):667-675) scrutinize the association between personality phenotype and all-cause mortality in remarkable detail by using an individual-participant meta-analysis design. Across 7 large cohorts varying in demographics and methods of personality measurement, they find varying prospective associations for 4 dimensions of the five-factor (or Big Five) model of personality, but robust and consistent prospective associations for Big Five dimension of conscientiousness. Jokela et al. place an important exclamation point on a long era of study of this topic and hint directly and indirectly at new avenues for this line of research. I consider the following 3 areas particularly rife for further inquiry: the role of genetics in personality and health studies; the role of personality in social inequalities in health; and the health policy and clinical implications of work like that of Jokela et al., including the potential role of personality phenotype in the evolution of personalized medicine.