Personality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Hong Kong Chinese older people: resilience as a mediator and financial status as a moderator

Objectives: Personality can influence older adults’ health and quality of life. However, the pathways are relatively less examined. This study aimed to understand the mediating effect of resilience in the relationship between two personality traits—neuroticism and extraversion—and Hong Kong Chinese older adults’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Whether such effect varied across older adults in different financial conditions were also examined.

Method: A purposive non-probability sample of 253 Hong Kong Chinese older adults aged 60 and above was recruited for a face-to-face questionnaire survey. Neuroticism and extraversion were measured using the subscales form the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Resilience was measured by the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). HRQoL was measured by the short-form 8 (SF- 8). Path analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between key variables. Multi-group path analysis was also performed to investigate whether the pathways differed by financial status. Indirect effects were computed in the path analyses to detect the mediatory role of resilience between personalities and HRQoL.

Results: The findings included that after controlling for confounders, neuroticism, but not extraversion was significantly associated with HRQoL. The relationships were mediated by resilience. Moreover, the mediating role of resilience is more pronounced among the participants who live in a financially poor or fair condition, comparing to their wealthier peers.

Conclusion: This study confirmed the important role of personality in shaping older adults’ resilience and quality of life. Personality should be kept in mind in the identification of potential vulnerable groups for interventions, especially those in financial hardships who may face double disadvantages.