Who Shake Their Legs and Bite Their Nails? Self-Reported Repetitive Behaviors and Big Five Personality Traits

Prevalence, risk factors and potential implications of nail biting in adults with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

Nail biting is a habit with potential health implications. Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of infections, with endocarditis being a particularly significant concern. Our aim was to establish the magnitude of this modifiable potential risk factor, namely nail biting, in a contemporary cohort of adult with CHD (ACHD).

METHODS

Our prospective study included consecutive, unselected ACHD patients, categorised on nail-biting habits, analysing background demographics, health records, and behavioural factors.

RESULTS

Of the 310 patients enrolled, 101 (33 %) were found to be current nail biters. Univariate logistic analysis revealed that younger age (OR: 1.30/10 years, p = 0.002), male gender (OR: 1.73, p = 0.029), greater CHD complexity (OR: 2.15, p = 0.002) and learning disability (OR: 3.51, p = 0.031) were associated with a significantly higher risk of nail biting. Multivariable analysis confirmed that younger age (OR: 1.29, p = 0.010), greater CHD complexity (OR: 1.89, p = 0.016), obesity (OR: 1.75, p = 0.038) and learning disability (OR: 3,87, p = 0.030) were significant predictors for nail biting.

CONCLUSION

A third of ACHD patients attending a tertiary centre engage in nail biting, which may have detrimental effects. Such behaviour was more prevalent among younger, obese, complex CHD patients and those with learning disability. Lifestyle education and/or modifications warrant further improvement in this growing patient population.

A Hierarchical Personality Approach Toward a Fuller Understanding of Onychophagia and Compulsive Buying

PURPOSE

Employing a hierarchical model of personality, prior research suggests that cardinal traits such as conscientiousness and agreeability predict central traits such as materialism and need for arousal that in turn impact surface traits such as onychophagia and compulsive buying. More research is needed to explore additional central traits and their effect on onychophagia and compulsive buying. Thus, the goal of the current research is to examine how another central trait-negative perfectionism-impacts onychophagia and compulsive buying.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

A survey was administered both online and face-to-face resulting in a sample of 634 subjects of which 391 were individuals with onychophagia. Through a multi-group analysis, a causal model was tested to identify personality traits and their relationship with compulsive buying.

RESULTS

Results showed that onychophagia was affected by other obsessive-compulsive disorders-particularly trichotillomania, and excoriation disorder, which significantly increased the likelihood that the participant was a compulsive buyer.

Defining Subtypes in Children with Nail Biting: A Latent Profile Analysis of Personality

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine personality profiles and behavioral problems of children with nail biting (NB) to gain insight into the developmental trajectory of pathological NB.

METHODS

681 elementary school students were divided into non NB (n=436), occasional NB (n=173) and frequent NB group (n=72) depending on the frequency of NB reported in Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL). Children's personality was assessed using the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), and behavioral problems were assessed using the CBCL. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was performed using JTCI profiles to classify personalities of the children with NB (belonging to frequent and occasional NB group, n=245).

RESULTS

For subscale scores of CBCL, the total, internalizing, externalizing, anxious/depressed withdrawn/depressed, depression, thought, rule-breaking, and aggressive behavior problems, were most severe in the frequent NB group followed by occasional NB and non NB group. LPA of personality profile in children with NB revealed four classes ('adaptiveness,' 'high reward dependence,' 'low self-directedness,' and 'maldaptiveness'). The four personality classes demonstrated significant group differences in all of the CBCL subscales. Children who showed low self-directedness and cooperativeness and high novelty seeking and harm avoidance personality profiles demonstrated highest tendency for problematic behavior irrespective of the frequency of NB.

CONCLUSION

Children with NB reported significantly more problematic behaviors compared to children without NB. Children with specific personality profile demonstrated higher tendency for problematic behavior irrespective of the frequency of NB. Therefore, accompanying personality profiles should be considered when assessing behavioral problems in children with NB.