Personality stability and change over a 30−year period−−middle age to old age

A group of physically healthy and emotionally stable men were periodically evaluated over a 30-yr period from middle age (M age = 49) to old age (M age of surviving group group = 77). Complete MPPI test results were obtained for 71 men in this group over 4 testing periods spanning the 30-yr interval. The results indicate considerable stability in the group profile configurations and individual scale correlations over the 4 evaluation periods. The relative increase in score with age on Scale 1, Scale 2, and Scale 3 is consistent with previous findings with aged populations. The results of the present investigation suggest that the increase in mean score on the Depression scale may reflect realistic bodily concerns and the presence of actual physical illness. Overall, this group manifested personality strengths in middle age and continued to function reasonably well in old age. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)