Scientists have known for some time that people who constantly worry tend to die at a younger age than others, but the cause wasn't clear.
Now, a new study suggests that a higher level of smoking is a key reason.
The report, funded by the National Institute on Aging, finds that 40 percent of the increased mortality among people classified as highly neurotic can be attributed to smoking.
"Smoking explains part of the effect of personality on mortality," says Daniel Mroczek, a family studies professor at Purdue University in Indiana. His research, conducted in cooperation with the Veterans Administration, is published in the Journal of Research in Personality.
Neuroticism refers not only to anxiety, but also to being highly sensitive to stressful situations. Mroczek says many neurotic individuals appear to find that smoking relaxes them and dulls that sensitivity.
"When you're ... feeling negative and anxious and worried, sometimes for some people, a cigarette can alleviate that," Mroczek tells CNN Radio. –For the complete story see CNN
Now, a new study suggests that a higher level of smoking is a key reason.
The report, funded by the National Institute on Aging, finds that 40 percent of the increased mortality among people classified as highly neurotic can be attributed to smoking.
"Smoking explains part of the effect of personality on mortality," says Daniel Mroczek, a family studies professor at Purdue University in Indiana. His research, conducted in cooperation with the Veterans Administration, is published in the Journal of Research in Personality.
Neuroticism refers not only to anxiety, but also to being highly sensitive to stressful situations. Mroczek says many neurotic individuals appear to find that smoking relaxes them and dulls that sensitivity.
"When you're ... feeling negative and anxious and worried, sometimes for some people, a cigarette can alleviate that," Mroczek tells CNN Radio. –For the complete story see CNN
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