Personality traits and long-term care financial risks among older Americans

TitlePersonality traits and long-term care financial risks among older Americans
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsCherry, PD, Asebedo, S
JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
Volume192
Pagination111560
ISSN Number0191-8869
KeywordsBig 5, Financial risks, Five factor model, Long-term Care, Long-term care services, OCEAN traits, Personality Traits, Uncertainty risks
Abstract

Individuals are susceptible to financial uncertainty across the financial life cycle. The last of three financial life cycle stages is the distribution of accumulated wealth to fund retirement. Individuals maximize utility by smoothing consumption over the life cycle while managing uncertainty events. Life cycle events include the potential need and financial cost for long-term care support and services. Pre-cautionary savings are used to exchange insurance premiums for the coverage of high uncertainty events. Despite the theoretical need for uncertainty protection, consumer demand for insurance that mitigates or eliminates risk exposure to uncertainty events is historically low. This conundrum is commonly referred to as uncertainty “puzzles.” The empirical and descriptive literature examines many potential factors for these protection gaps that range from financial, health, social insurance, substitute and complimentary assets, socio-demographic factors, individual preferences, behavioral, and psychosocial factors, which this current paper controls for a majority. Research is growing yet limited when considering individuals personality traits as potential explanations for personal finance behaviors. This study investigates and provides results that suggest that personality traits could partially explain the low demand for financial uncertainty insurance. Of the five personality traits, an individual who more strongly identifies with conscientiousness, holding all else equal, was found to associate positively with long-term care insurance ownership.

DOI10.1016/j.paid.2022.111560
Citation KeyCHERRY2022111560