According to the week's reading, can personality factors predict mortality? Why or why not?

          According to this week's reading personality factors are not a predictor of mortality, instead personality factors are a contributors of when diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) will be diagnosed. Personality factors, such as neuroticism play a role in the diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The reason why is because Hans J. Eysenck and David Kissen during the early 1960, conducted research disproving this point but personality factors have an effect on and individual's mortality. Their research showed that individuals scoring low on neuroticism (N) on the Maudsley Personality Inventory had a tendency to prohibit his or her emotions, therefore these individuals are more likely than individuals who have a high neuroticism (N) score to receive a diagnosis of lung cancer later on in life (Feist & Feist, 2009). In 1996, Eysenck made the point whereas the study he conducted and other studies concerning the relationship between personality and disease cannot prove psychological factors predict mortality or cause diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Such diseases that contribute to mortality are the result of interactions of several factors but personality factors cannot predict mortality.   

Reference

Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of personality (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.