Personality traits and end-of-life attitudes and behaviors in older adults: evidence from share

Abstract Personality traits (PTs) - Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to experience, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness - are related to decision-making styles, as well as to specific end-of-life (EOL) healthcare preferences. Building on this knowledge, our study aims to explore the association of PTs with attitudes and behaviours towards the EOL in general and EOL care planning in particular. Our analyses are based on a paper-and-pencil self-completion questionnaire (n=1’524) administered as part of wave 6 and 7 of SHARE in Switzerland. PTs are measured with the Big-Five inventory ten (BFI-10). Attitudes and behaviours related to EOL are: outlook −avoid thinking about death, think about and discuss EOL preferences−, administrative arrangements −testament, power of attorney−, approval and completion of advance care planning. Results show that older adults with higher scores on openness are more likely to think, plan and discuss EOL, as well as to have made arrangement in advance such as a testament, and a power of attorney. Higher scores on extraversion are linked with having a testament. Individuals who express higher scores on neuroticism more often think about their wishes for EOL, whereas those scoring higher on agreeableness are less likely to be in favour of advance care planning. To conclude, older adults in Switzerland remain unfamiliar with EOL topics, since only individuals with higher openness to experience are more prone to prepare for the EOL. PTs should be taken into account when educating and encouraging people to plan for their EOL.