On the role of personality in successful aging: A scoping review

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to critically examine current knowledge on the role of personality in successful aging, considering Hooker and McAdams’ 3-level, 6-foci model of personality. The aim was also to pinpoint knowledge gaps that research should address in the future. Research Design and Methods: We carried out a scoping review of the literature on successful aging and personality, following the 5-step framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and further expanded by Levac et al. Results: Research into the role of personality in successful aging has grown signifcantly over the last 20 years. However, the increasing number of publications on the topic was primarily accounted for by studies focused on Layer 1 and particularly Layer 2 of McAdams’ model of personality, with Layer 3 being scarcely addressed. Research that included more than 1 layer of personality was rare. Discussion and Implications: Our study pinpointed gaps that should be considered in future research in this area. These gaps were related to advancing toward agreed-upon defnitions of successful aging and personality, broadening the scope of research on this topic, and integrating personality dimensions on research on successful aging.