Creativity decreases mortality risk in older men
"A study published in the June issue of the Journal of Aging and Health found that higher openness predicted longer life." (see (2) for original study)
"The June study sought to determine whether specific aspects of openness better predicted survival rates than overall openness, using data on more than 1,000 older men collected between 1990 and 2008. The researchers found that only creativity-- not intelligence or overall openness-- decreased mortality risk."
(1)Tori Rodriguez, "Open Mind, Longer Life," Scientific American Mind. Sept.-Oct. 2012. 18. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=open-mind-longer-life (2) Nicholas A. Turiano, Avron Spiro III, Daniel K. Mroczek, "Openness to Experience and Mortality in Men: Analysis of Trait and Facets," J Aging Health, June, 2012. http://jah.sagepub.com/content/24/4/654.abstract
[verified 4/17/14]