The analyses were conducted using SPSS 13.0. Basic descriptive statistics were performed using correlation or ANOVA. The main analyses consisted of a series of Cox’s Proportional Hazard Models (45) to examine the relation between personality traits and the risk of death. Time to event was defined as the time (in years) from the personality assessment to death or censoring date. Age at time of personality assessment, sex, education, and ethnicity (white, other, black) were tested as covariates and retained in the models if they emerged as significant predictors. Each personality scale was modeled separately, but in an additional model we included all significant personality predictors to examine whether the associations of personality traits with longevity were independent. Smoking and BMI were also tested in additional models to examine whether these risk factors mediate the association of personality traits with longevity.
