Live Longer: Be Conscientious

The key to a longer life could lie in an individual's personality, the Los Angeles Times reports. University of California researchers analyzed 20 studies and discovered that conscientious people—disciplined, hardworking, and responsible folks—tend to live an average of 2 to 4 years longer than their more slapdash counterparts.

Such individuals "have better health habits and less risk-taking" and "may even have a biological predisposition toward good health," said the lead researcher, whose work is published in Health Psychology. “We think our findings can challenge people to think about their lives and what may result from the actions they do. Improvements can emerge over the long run as individuals enter responsible relationships, careers and associations.”