The Relationship Between Personality and Perceived Mental Fatigability

Hannah Allen,Robert Boudreau,Stephen Smagula,Theresa Gmelin,Nancy Glynn,Jane Cauley

doi:10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2832

Abstract

Several personality traits are known to be protective against global fatigue, however perceived mental fatigability (PMF, Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale 0-50) specifically measures an individual’s susceptibility to cognitive tiredness and is associated with mobility decline. We assessed whether optimism, conscientiousness, goal reengagement and goal disengagement contributed to greater PMF in 1,812 men (mean±SD age 84.4±4.2 years, 90.4% white) in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study 4th visit (2014-2016). Covariates included demographic, psychological/behavioral factors, health conditions, physical activity and function. Prevalence of higher PMF (score ≥13) was 25% (n=448). In a covariate-adjusted regression model, each SD lower conscientiousness and lower optimism were associated with 0.93 and 0.61 SDs greater PMF, each p<0.01. Goal disengagement and goal reengagement were not associated with PMF. These findings warrant further investigation into how personality traits may help clinicians design targeted and effective interventions to reduce fatigability, and consequently lower the risk of adverse aging-related health outcomes.

Highlights

1.1 The Aging Population and Implications for Functional Decline and DisabilityThe population of adults over the age of 65 in the United States is rapidly increasing
Goal disengagement was not significantly correlated with perceived mental fatigability
The results demonstrated that while lower goal reengagement was significantly associated with higher perceived mental fatigability in the univariate model, and when controlling for age, the addition of the marital status, race, and education fully attenuated the relationship

Summary

Introduction

1.1 The Aging Population and Implications for Functional Decline and DisabilityThe population of adults over the age of 65 in the United States is rapidly increasing. 1.1 The Aging Population and Implications for Functional Decline and Disability. Approximately a quarter (25.4%) of adults in the United States over the age of 50 are living with functional disability related to activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (Hung et al, 2011). In a longitudinal study of independent adults age 65 and older, among those who reported tiredness (a proxy measure for fatigue), 29% reported that their function was moderately affected, and 26% reported that their function was affected quite a lot. In a period where the number of older adults experiencing fatigue and subsequent functional decline and disability is expected to increase, work to understand the underlying mechanisms of these pathways is of particular importance

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