It's somewhat interesting, but the authors' conclusions are a bit odd given their data.
They acknowledge that fame is potentially confounding:
Risk factors (impulsivity, substance use, etc.) -> Fame achievement |
Risk factors -> Early mortality
The authors also appear to conclude that fame is semi-causal of the mortality risk. If, taking a causal statistical approach, the authors conditioned on the collider:
Risk factors (substance use, personality traits, mental health vulnerabilities) -> Becoming/staying a professional singer <- Talent/drive toward fame
I do applaud them for preregistering the study, but I think this paper needed a little more rigor in peer review.
They acknowledge that fame is potentially confounding: Risk factors (impulsivity, substance use, etc.) -> Fame achievement | Risk factors -> Early mortality
The authors also appear to conclude that fame is semi-causal of the mortality risk. If, taking a causal statistical approach, the authors conditioned on the collider:
Risk factors (substance use, personality traits, mental health vulnerabilities) -> Becoming/staying a professional singer <- Talent/drive toward fame
I do applaud them for preregistering the study, but I think this paper needed a little more rigor in peer review.