Zusammenfassung

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of personality and fatigue on functional health in old and very old adults. The participants included 239 centenarians and 82 octogenarians from the Georgia Centenarian Study. Multiple linear regressions were performed to assess the relationship between NEO personality domains and facets (neuroticism, extraversion, trust, competence, and ideas), fatigue, and functional health (activities of daily living). Results indicate a significant direct effect for fatigue to functional health, ß = -.30, p < .001, when controlling for demographic variables (age, gender, and ethnicity), such that lower levels of fatigue are associated with higher independent functioning. In addition, the personality domains extraversion, ß = -.40, p < .001, and neuroticism, ß = .16, p < .05, along with the NEO personality facet ideas, ß = -.17, p < .05, were significantly associated with fatigue when controlling for demographic variables. The results indicate low levels of extraversion and ideas along with high levels of neuroticism predict higher levels of fatigue. These findings not only add to the existing body of knowledge regarding functional health in older adulthood, it sheds light on the impact of enduring personal factors and fatigue on functioning in later life.