Scientists have identified psychological traits associated with healthy ageing

Researchers compared older people from Sardinia’s ‘Blue Zone’ with those from the neighbouring countryside. They found that residents of the ‘Blue Zone’ were more open to new experiences, coped better with everyday difficulties, had a better understanding of their emotions, and spent more time on activities that keep the mind and body active.

The study was published in the International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology.

Details

The study involved 125 people aged between 71 and 101. Some of them lived in Sardinia’s ‘Blue Zone’, whilst others lived in a neighbouring rural area that is not classified as such. The average age of the participants was around 80. The researchers assessed their cognitive function, personality traits, psychological well-being, health-related quality of life and daily activities.

The main difference among the residents of the ‘Blue Zone’ turned out not to be down to any single miracle factor. They were more likely to demonstrate greater openness to experience — that is, an interest in new things, a willingness to get involved, to try new activities, and to remain curious and active.

Furthermore, they had more effective strategies for coping with stress, higher emotional competence and more time for leisure activities that stimulate the brain or the body. On average, residents of the ‘Blue Zone’ spent 11.3 hours a week on such activities, whilst participants from the neighbouring area spent 6.8 hours.

What is a ‘Blue Zone’?

Blue Zones are geographical areas where there is an unusually high number of centenarians and people who remain in relatively good health in old age. Such places usually include certain areas of Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Ikaria in Greece, Nicoya in Costa Rica and several other regions.

The name does not imply that there is a mystical ‘secret to longevity’ there. Rather, these are areas where various factors have come together: lifestyle, diet, physical activity, social connections, culture, family support, the environment and, possibly, genetic characteristics.

The Sardinian ‘Blue Zone’ is of particular interest to scientists because it is home to many older people who remain actively involved in everyday life: they carry out household chores, tend their gardens, socialise, and maintain their usual routine and social roles.

Which traits proved to be important

The researchers looked at the so-called ‘Big Five’ personality traits: openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and neuroticism.

Openness to experience was linked to greater psychological well-being, more active leisure pursuits, the ability to cope with difficulties and emotional competence. Put simply, people who maintained an interest in the world were more likely to remain engaged in activities and social life.

Conscientiousness — that is, being organised, responsible and able to stick to routines — was linked to greater psychological well-being, life satisfaction and better coping strategies.

Agreeableness was linked to greater life satisfaction. This makes sense: the ability to cooperate, maintain relationships and be more gentle in one’s interactions can help a person remain part of the community.

Neuroticism, however — a tendency towards anxiety, irritability, self-doubt and negative experiences — was associated with a lower quality of life in terms of health. In other words, people who were more prone to constant internal tension were more likely to rate their physical and functional well-being more poorly.

Why hobbies are no trivial matter

In this study, a hobby is not simply a ‘pleasant pastime’. We are talking about activities that help a person stay engaged: reading, gardening, craft work, socialising, activities at centres for older people, physical activity and mental stimulation.

Such activities can help maintain a sense of purpose and control. This is particularly important in later life, when people face limitations, losses, changes in health and shifts in their roles within the family or society. Active leisure helps people to remain engaged in life and adapt to new circumstances.

The authors link their findings to the model of successful ageing, in which people learn to choose what is still within their reach, focus on meaningful activities and compensate for limitations with new strategies.

Why this is important

Ageing is not just a matter of life expectancy. What matters more is the extent to which a person maintains their independence, interest in the world, relationships, emotional stability and a sense of purpose.

The study shows that psychological factors can be an important part of this picture. Diet and physical activity matter, but a person does not age solely in their body. They age in their relationships, habits, thoughts, emotions and daily choices.

The practical takeaway is not to copy the lifestyle of Sardinian centenarians to the letter. Rather, it is that curiosity, staying active as much as possible, social connections, hobbies and the ability to adapt to limitations are all important for a healthy old age.

Background

The idea of ‘blue zones’ became popular in the early 2000s, when researchers began to identify regions with an unusually high proportion of centenarians. However, the zones themselves should not be viewed as magical places where a single universal secret to old age has been discovered.

The scientific interest in them lies elsewhere: they allow us to study how lifestyle, culture, diet, physical activity, social support and psychology are collectively linked to a long and relatively active life.

Sardinia is particularly important for such research because, in some of its mountainous and rural areas, traditional ways of life have been preserved for a long time: close-knit communities, physical activity as part of daily life, family ties and a prominent role for older people in social life.

Source

Study: Maria Chiara Fastame et al., “Health-Related Quality of Life and Personality Characteristics for Ageing Well: Evidence from the Sardinian Blue Zone”, International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 2026.