Personality change associated with chronic diseases: pooled analysis of four prospective cohort studies

Exploring the retrospective and prospective associations between the big five personality traits and clinical diagnosis of angina in middle-aged and older adults

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the present research was to test the retrospective and prospective associations between the Big Five personality traits and clinical diagnosis of angina while controlling for demographic characteristics.

METHODS

Data from middle-aged and older adults from a cohort study Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) were extracted and analyzed using binary logistic regressions (N = 10,124 for the retrospective study and N = 5485 for the prospective study). Personality was measured using a self-report 15-item version of the Big Five inventory between 2011 and 2012. Angina was measured by a self-report clinical diagnosis history question in each wave from until 2019. Covariates in our models included age, sex, income (monthly), education, and marital status.

RESULTS

Neuroticism was positively related to the likelihood of clinical angina diagnosis in both the retrospective (OR = 1.22, 95% C.I. [1.11, 1.34]) and the prospective (OR = 1.52, 95% C.I. [1.19, 1.94]) study whereas Extraversion had a positive association with odds of angina (OR = 1.52, 95% C.I. [1.17, 1.97]) in the prospective study only. The negative association between Openness and clinical angina diagnosis in the cross-sectional analysis is borderline significant (OR = 0.91, p = 0.048, 95% C.I. [0.83, 1.00]).

CONCLUSION

Our research indicated that personality traits are associated with the risk of angina. These findings emphasize the importance of considering personality traits in understanding the etiology of angina and potentially informing personalized prevention and intervention strategies.

Personality and cognitive errors in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study

This study examines the association between personality and cognitive errors in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study, a sample diverse across race (Black, White) and SES (above, below 125% of the federal poverty line). Participants (N=1,062) completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire and were administered a brief mental status screener of cognitive errors. Higher neuroticism was associated with more cognitive errors, whereas higher openness and conscientiousness were associated with fewer errors. These associations were independent of age, sex, race, poverty status, and education and were generally not moderated by these factors. These findings support the associations between personality and cognition across race and SES.

Associations between forgiveness and physical and mental health in the context of long COVID

OBJECTIVE

Forgiveness has been positively associated with health in those with functional disorders. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships among dimensions of forgiveness and physical and mental health in individuals with and without long COVID.

METHODS

Adults (N = 4316) in the United States took part in an online survey study detailing long COVID presence, physical and mental health, and trait forgiveness. T-tests were performed to assess differences in types of trait forgiveness between individuals with and without long COVID. Linear regression models assessed the contribution of demographic covariates and forgiveness subscales to the physical and mental health of individuals with and without long COVID.

RESULTS

Of 4316 participants, 379 (8.8%) reported current long COVID. Participants were an average age of 43.7, and most identified as female (51.9%), white (87.8%), and non-Hispanic/Latino (86.6%). Individuals with long COVID reported significantly less forgiveness of self (p < 0.001, d = 0.33), forgiveness of others (p = 0.004, d = 0.16), and forgiveness of situations (p < 0.001, d = 0.34) than those without long COVID. Among the long COVID sample, forgiveness of self and situations were positively associated with mental health (p < 0.05), but not physical health (p > 0.05). Forgiveness of others was negatively associated with both physical and mental health (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Forgiveness may be an important consideration in understanding health among individuals with long COVID, emphasizing the importance of developing a multifaceted understanding of the condition.

Body mass predicts personality development across 18 years in middle to older adulthood

OBJECTIVE

Various personality traits have longitudinal relations with body mass index (BMI), a measure of body weight and a risk factor for numerous health concerns. We tested these associations' compatibility with causality in either direction.

METHOD

Using three waves of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (N = 12,235, Mage  = 53.33 at baseline), we tested how accurately the Five-Factor Model personality domains and their items could collectively predict BMI and change in it with elastic net models. With multilevel models, we tested (a) bidirectional and (b) within-person associations between BMI and personality traits.

RESULTS

The five domains were able to predict concurrent (r = 0.08), but not future BMI. Twenty-nine personality items predicted concurrent and future BMI at r = 0.21 and r = 0.16 to 0.25, respectively. Neither the domains nor items could collectively predict change in BMI. Similarly, no individual trait predicted change in BMI, but BMI predicted changes in Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and several items (|b*| = 0.03 to 0.08). BMI had within-person correlations with these same traits; time-invariant third factors like genetics or childhood environments therefore could not (fully) account for their relations.

CONCLUSIONS

Body weight may contribute to adults' personality development, but the reverse appears less likely.

Exploring the relationship between personality and chronic pain in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta: A cross-sectional study

Despite the growing body of research on chronic pain in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the influence of psychological factors on pain experienced by individuals with this condition. This study aims to delve into the correlation between personality traits and various aspects of pain, such as frequency, intensity, appraisal, and coping mechanisms, in a significant sample of adults with OI. Additionally, the investigation seeks to identify whether certain personality profiles may be more susceptible to chronic pain within this specific population. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 418 adults diagnosed with OI. Participants completed an online survey that assessed sociodemographic and clinical variables, pain parameters, personality traits, pain appraisal, and coping strategies. Subsequently, descriptive, correlational, cluster and comparative analyses were performed. Up to 83% of the participants reported experiencing pain on a regular basis. Regarding personality dimensions, moderate scores were obtained, with no significant differences compared to the general population. Neuroticism emerged as the trait showing the most robust relationships with the evaluated variables. It positively correlated with pain intensity, frequency, and the perception of pain as threatening (P < .001). Conversely, higher levels of extraversion were associated with a reduction in pain and its threatening perception (P < .001). Finally, the cluster analysis revealed a personality profile that showed greater vulnerability in pain adaptation, characterized by high levels of neuroticism and low levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Chronic pain is prevalent in adults with OI. Personality dimensions maintain a significant relationship with this pain, acting as vulnerability or protective factors. Consequently, specific personality profiles are associated with poorer adaptation. Understanding these profiles would allow for a deeper comprehension of the pain experience in adults with OI.

Hippocampal Dynamic Functional Connectivity, HPA Axis Activity, and Personality Trait in Bipolar Disorder with Suicidal Attempt

INTRODUCTION

Suicide in bipolar disorder (BD) is a multifaceted behavior, involving specific neuroendocrine and psychological mechanisms. According to previous studies, we hypothesized that suicidal BD patients may exhibit impaired dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) variability of hippocampal subregions and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which may be associated with suicide-related personality traits. The objective of our study was to clarify this.

METHODS

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from 79 patients with BD, 39 with suicidal attempt (SA), and 40 without SA, and 35 healthy controls (HCs). The activity of the HPA axis was assessed by measuring morning plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) levels. All participants underwent personality assessment using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2).

RESULTS

BD patients with SA exhibited increased dFC variability between the right caudal hippocampus and the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) when compared with non-SA BD patients and HCs. BD with SA also showed significantly lower ACTH levels in comparison with HCs, which was positively correlated with increased dFC variability between the right caudal hippocampus and the left STG. BD with SA had significantly higher scores of Hypochondriasis, Depression, and Schizophrenia than non-SA BD. Additionally, multivariable regression analysis revealed the interaction of ACTH × dFC variability between the right caudal hippocampus and the left STG independently predicted MMPI-2 score (depression evaluation) in suicidal BD patients.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that suicidal BD exhibited increased dFC variability of hippocampal-temporal cortex and less HPA axis hyperactivity, which may affect their personality traits.

Can the Big Five personality traits predict ever chance and 7-year risk of clinically diagnosed chronic bronchitis in middle-aged and older adults?

OBJECTIVE

Chronic bronchitis refers to a chronic condition that is characterized by long-term inflammation of the bronchi. It is of great importance to understand the contributing risk factors for chronic bronchitis because it is associated with adverse outcomes such as healthcare burden and mortality. We aimed to understand if the personality traits could predict ever and the 7-year risk of clinically diagnosed chronic bronchitis in a large cohort of participants from the UK.

METHODS

We analyzed data from Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study, which consists of 15,387 middle-aged or older participants for the cross-sectional analysis and 8783 middle-aged or older adults for the longitudinal analysis using two binary logistic regressions.

RESULTS

We found that Neuroticism (OR = 1.36, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [1.23, 1.51]), Conscientiousness (OR = 0.87, p = 0.014, 95% C.I. [0.78, 0.97]), and Extraversion (OR = 1.15, p = 0.009, 95% C.I. [1.04, 1.29]) are related to a higher chance of ever clinically diagnosed chronic bronchitis. However, Agreeableness and Openness were not related to the chance of ever clinically diagnosed chronic bronchitis. Moreover, Conscientiousness (OR = 0.72, p = 0.012, 95% C.I. [0.55, 0.93]) was related to a lower risk of future clinical diagnosis of chronic bronchitis whereas Extraversion (OR = 1.35, p = 0.024, 95% C.I. [1.04, 1.76]) was associated with a higher risk of future chronic bronchitis. However, Neuroticism, Agreeableness, and Openness were not related to change of ever clinically diagnosed chronic bronchitis.

CONCLUSION

We showed that personality can identify people who are at greater risk of chronic bronchitis, which has translational utility for healthcare of middle-aged and older adults.

Personality associations with lung function and dyspnea: Evidence from six studies

OBJECTIVE

The present study examined the association between Five Factor Model personality traits and lung function and dyspnea.

METHODS

Participants were middle aged and older adults aged 34-103 years old (N > 25,000) from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the National Health and Aging Trends Survey (NHATS), and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study graduate (WLSG) and sibling (WLSS) samples. Data on peak expiratory flow (PEF), dyspnea, personality traits, smoking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), emotional/psychiatric problems, and demographic factors were obtained in each sample.

RESULTS

A meta-analysis indicated that higher neuroticism was related to lower PEF, higher risk of PEF less than 80% of predicted value, and higher risk of dyspnea. In contrast, higher extraversion and conscientiousness were associated with higher PEF, lower likelihood of PEF lower than 80% of the predicted value, and lower risk of dyspnea. Higher openness was related to higher PEF and lower risk of PEF less than 80%, whereas agreeableness was related to higher PEF and lower risk of dyspnea. Smoking, physical activity, BMI and emotional/psychiatric problems partially accounted for these associations. There was little evidence that lung disease moderated the association between personality and PEF and dyspnea.

CONCLUSIONS

Across cohorts, this study found replicable evidence that personality is associated with lung function and associated symptomatology.

The role of personality traits on self-medicated cannabis in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A multivariable analysis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients commonly report medicinal cannabis use (MCU). Personality has been independently associated with both RA-related outcomes and MCU, but there is no information available on how they interact in RA patients. This study aimed to investigate a potential association between personality traits and MCU in RA outpatients, as well as to identify additional factors associated with its use.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed between June 2020 and August 2021. Consecutive RA outpatients had standardized evaluations using an interview format to collect sociodemographic information, comorbidities, risk of recreational substance use, RA-related disease activity/severity, health-related quality of life, depressive and anxiety symptoms, five personality traits, and MCU in the 12 months before the interview. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR). The study was IRB-approved.

RESULTS

180 patients were included; 160 (88.9%) were women with a mean age of 53.4 ± 13 years. Fifty-three (29.4%) patients reported MCU. Among them, 52 (98.1%) used topical formulations. Neuroticism had the highest overall score ([Formula: see text] = 3.47 ± 0.34). Openness to experience trait was higher in MCU patients in the comparative analysis (p = 0.007). In the multivariable regression, higher openness trait (aOR: 2.81, 95%CI: 1.11-7.10) along with moderate risk in tobacco use (aOR: 3.36, 95%CI: 1.04-10.7) and higher RA disease activity/severity (aOR: 1.10, 95%CI: 1.01-1.19) were independently associated with MCU.

CONCLUSIONS

In the current study, personality influenced the seeking of MCU for pain relief, associating dynamically with higher disease activity/severity and tobacco use. Contrary to other available information, it did not relate to psychopathology or the recreational use of cannabis. Proactive interdisciplinary clinical evaluations around MCU in RA outpatients should include personality, besides standard clinical assessments, to understand patients' motivations for its use as they may reveal important clinical information.

“It Depends on the Situation”: How Hearing-Specific Contexts Affect the Way Adults With Hearing Loss Report Their Personal Attributes

Purpose:

This study examined how adults with untreated hearing loss respond to surveys about their self-efficacy, personality traits, and affective states when assessed “in general” and in listening-related contexts. We also explored the associations between hearing aid self-efficacy (HASE) and listening-related personality traits and affective states.

Method:

Sixty-two adults with self-reported hearing difficulties and no experience with hearing aids (HAs) participated in this descriptive study. Participants self-reported their self-efficacy, personality, and affective states in general and in listening-related contexts. Paired t tests and repeated measures with Holm–Šídák corrections were performed to explore differences between reports of patient traits in different contexts. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore significant associations.

Results:

On average, there were no significant differences between general and listening-related self-efficacy or personality traits. However, our participants indicated significantly more negative affective states in listening-related situations compared to in general. There was a small positive association between HASE and reported affective states in “General” and “Listening at Home” contexts.

Conclusions:

This study confirms that context-specific measures are not required to accurately assess self-efficacy and personality traits in the initial stages of the hearing health journey. However, reported affective states were listening dependent for this sample. Although reported affective states were related to HASE, context-dependent measures did not provide additional insight into participants' self-efficacy for successful HA use. This suggests that rehabilitation protocols designed to promote HASE and positive affect in general and listening-related situations could facilitate HA success.

Longitudinal Associations between Sensation Seeking and Its Components and Alcohol Use in Young SWISS Men-Are There Bidirectional Associations?

The association between alcohol use and sensation seeking is well known. Less is known about whether longitudinal changes in alcohol use are associated with changes in sensation seeking and in which direction influence might flow. 5125 men aged 20.0 years old at baseline and 25.4 years old at follow-up responded to the Brief Sensation Seeking Questionnaire, which measures four subscales of experience seeking, boredom susceptibility, thrill- and adventure-seeking, and disinhibition. Alcohol use was measured using volume (drinks per week) and binge drinking (about 60 g or more per occasion). Associations were calculated using cross-lagged panel models and two-wave latent change score models. Correlations between the latent change scores for alcohol use and the sensation-seeking subscales were all positive, being largest for disinhibition (r > 0.3) and much smaller (r ~ 0.1) for the others. Disinhibition was the dominant effect over the entire sensation-seeking scale. Cross-lagged paths were (except for thrill- and adventure-seeking) bidirectional and mostly higher from alcohol use to sensation seeking (e.g., path_{volume-disinhibition} = 0.136, and path_{disinhibition-volume} = 0.072). Again, effects were highest for disinhibition. Given the bidirectional links between sensation seeking and alcohol use, preventive efforts aiming to achieve stable positive changes in alcohol use and personality should target both simultaneously and focus on disinhibition.

Personality and limitations in instrumental activities of daily living in old age: Reciprocal associations across 12 years

Personality traits have been reported to predict difficulties in performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in old age, such as preparing meals or shopping. However, little is known about the reciprocal effects on personality. In this study, we examined bidirectional relationships between personality traits and the capacity to perform IADL using four waves of longitudinal data from 3540 older adults (aged 65 years and older) from the Health and Retirement Study. We applied a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model to separate between- and within-person effects across time and compared it to a traditional cross-lagged panel model. At the between-person level, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were associated with more IADL limitations. Within individuals across time, increases in neuroticism and decreases in conscientiousness and extraversion were associated with increases in IADL limitations 4 years later. In contrast, increases in IADL limitations only predicted increases in neuroticism and decreases in extraversion. These results indicate that some personality traits affect and are affected by limitations in functional capacities in old age. Results of the within-person model build a strong foundation for future personality interventions as a pathway to maintain high functioning in old age.

Personality changes after subarachnoid hemorrhage: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Personality changes (PC) comprise a common and debilitating illness that accompanies many neurological disorders, including non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this systematic review was to identify and critically appraise all published studies that have reported the frequency, severity, and time course of PC after SAH, the factors associated with the development of PC and the effects of PC on patients' lives after SAH.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Ovid Nursing databases for studies published in English that recruited at least 10 patients (>18 years old) after SAH who were also diagnosed with PC.

RESULTS

We found eight studies involving 1227 patients met the study entry criteria. The frequency of PC ranged from 32% to 59%, with a pooled frequency of 44%. The clinical course of PC after SAH was unclear. PC after SAH may be associated with the clinical features and treatment factors related to SAH and comorbid conditions. Neurological signs, disability and surgical treatment increased the risk of PC. PC reduced the study participants' chance of employment.

CONCLUSION

In summary, PC commonly occurs after SAH. Further research is needed to clarify the time course of PC and identify the risk factors, neurochemical factors, and brain circuits associated with the development of post-SAH PC. Randomized controlled treatment trials targeting SAH-related PC are warranted.

Agreeableness and Its Consequences: A Quantitative Review of Meta-Analytic Findings

Agreeableness impacts people and real-world outcomes. In the most comprehensive quantitative review to date, we summarize results from 142 meta-analyses reporting effects for 275 variables, which represent N > 1.9 million participants from k > 3,900 studies. Arranging variables by their content and type, we use an organizational framework of 16 conceptual categories that presents a detailed account of Agreeableness’ external relations. Overall, the trait has effects in a desirable direction for 93% of variables (grand mean [Formula: see text]). We also review lower order trait evidence for 42 variables from 20 meta-analyses. Using these empirical findings, in tandem with existing theory, we synthesize eight general themes that describe Agreeableness’ characteristic functioning across variables: self-transcendence, contentment, relational investment, teamworking, work investment, lower results emphasis, social norm orientation, and social integration. We conclude by discussing potential boundary conditions of findings, contributions and limitations of our review, and future research directions.

Big five personality traits and physician-certified sickness absence

Although several studies show that personality traits are associated with absenteeism, few large-scale studies have examined these relationships prospectively, integrating survey data and register data on sickness absence. This study examines whether personality is associated with sickness absence, and whether health factors, gender, age, type of occupation and job satisfaction moderate this relationship. We combine survey data assessing the Big Five personality traits from a large sample of Norwegian employees aged 18–62 years ( N = 5017) with register data on physician-certified sickness absence up to four years after. Negative binomial regression analyses showed that extraversion was positively associated with subsequent sickness absence when controlling for several covariates, including health, work factors and previous spells of sickness absence. Neuroticism also showed significant positive associations with sick leave; however, the association diminished when accounting for previous spells of sickness absence. Moderator analyses demonstrated that age and type of occupation affected some of the associations between personality and sickness absence. The findings indicate that – in addition to general health promotion measures – specific interventions targeting individuals high in extraversion may be beneficial in reducing sick leave. How socio-demographic and work-related factors moderate the relationship between personality and sickness absence may be an interesting future research area.

Does positive affect mediate the association of multimorbidity on depressive symptoms?

Objectives Multimorbidity poses various challenges, and previous research has indicated a causal relation with depression. As multimorbidity is not curable, the underlying mechanisms are of great interest. Positive affect is a major resource for coping with chronic conditions and for the prevention of depression. Long-term multimorbidity, however, may deplete positive affect. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of positive affect in the association between multimorbidity and depressive symptoms.Method We used four consecutive waves (2008, 2011, 2014, 2017) of the nationally representative German Ageing Survey (DEAS) with a total of 1,558 older adults aged 40 and over. To account for time-varying confounding, exposure-induced mediator-outcome confounding, and reciprocities, we applied the mediational g-formula with inverse-probability weighting techniques. We also tested for exposure-mediator interaction to adjust for differences in mediation across the duration of multimorbidity.Results We confirmed a positive longitudinal relation between multimorbidity and depressive symptoms, both of which were negatively associated with while positive affect. The model without interaction indicated a share mediated of ca. 18.3% on the total effect of multimorbidity on depressive symptoms. Addition of interaction led to substantial differences for multimorbidity duration and levels of positive affect. Associations for long-term multimorbidity (at least two survey waves) were more substantial, and the share mediated doubled (>40%). Additionally, the direct effect of multimorbidity on depressive symptoms diminished for short-term multimorbidity.Conclusion Strengthening positive affect could reduce depressive symptoms in those facing multimorbidity. This study also discusses methodological challenges in performing longitudinal mediation analysis. We advise researchers to consider the mediational g-formula and exposure-mediator interaction.

The personality traits activity, self-reproach, and negative affect jointly predict clinical recurrence, depressive symptoms, and low quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease patients

BACKGROUND

The bidirectional "gut-brain axis" has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). While the influence of stress and depressive symptoms on IBD is well-characterized, the role of personality remains insufficiently investigated.

METHODS

Personality was assessed in 1154 Swiss IBD cohort study (SIBDCS) patients via the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) as well as in 2600 participants of the population-based CoLaus¦PsyCoLaus cohort study (NEO-FFI-revised). The NEO-FFI subcomponents activity, self-reproach and negative affect were associated with higher IBD disease activity and were combined to a NEO-FFI risk score. This risk score was validated and its effect on clinical IBD course and psychological endpoints was analysed in time-to-event and cumulative incidence analyses.

RESULTS

In time-to-event analyses, a high NEO-FFI risk score was predictive for the clinical endpoints of new extraintestinal manifestation [EIM, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.64, corrected p value (q) = 0.036] and two established composite flare endpoints (aHR = 1.53-1.63, q = 0.003-0.006) as well as for the psychological endpoints depressive symptoms (aHR = 7.06, q < 0.001) and low quality of life (aHR = 3.06, q < 0.001). Furthermore, cumulative incidence analyses showed that patients at high NEO-FFI risk experienced significantly more episodes of active disease, new EIMs, one of the flare endpoints, depressive episodes and low disease-related quality of life. Personalities of IBD patients showed only minor differences from the general population sample (Pearson's r = 0.03-0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Personality assessed by the NEO-FFI contained considerable predictive power for disease recurrence, depressive symptoms and low quality of life in IBD patients. Nevertheless, the personalities of IBD patients did not substantially differ from the general population.

Personality Change Profiles and Changes in Cognition Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Research on the relationship between personality traits and cognitive abilities has primarily used cross-sectional designs and considered personality traits individually in relation to cognitive dimensions. This study (N = 2,652) examined the relationship between Big Five personality change profiles and change in cognitive factors, episodic memory and executive functioning. Latent profile analysis was used to capture patterns of change across the Big Five traits. Three profiles of personality change were defined: Decreasers, Maintainers, and Increasers. The Decreasers declined more in episodic memory compared to the Increasers and Maintainers. Also, the Decreasers declined more in executive functioning compared to the Increasers, but not the Maintainers. The findings advance our understanding of the links between patterns of personality change and cognitive aging.

Personality changes after acquired brain injury and their effects on rehabilitation outcomes

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is often associated with personality changes. Pre- as well as post-injury personality traits are related to rehabilitation outcomes. However, it largely remains unclear whether post-injury personality shows any associations with rehabilitation outcomes over and above pre-injury personality. Using a case-control design, this study investigated (1) personality changes after ABI from patients' and significant others' perspective, and (2) relations of pre- and post-ABI personality traits to rehabilitation outcomes in the short- and long-term. 40 patients with ABI (85% stroke, 15% traumatic brain injury), 46 healthy controls and their significant others participated. Personality was assessed with NEO-FFI, rehabilitation outcomes (activities, participation, depression) were measured at two and ten months after ABI. Patient-ratings indicated decreases in extraversion and a trend towards reduced conscientiousness. Significant others reported increases in patients' neuroticism. Pre- as well as post-injury personality traits were associated with depression and activities at both short- and long-term timepoints after ABI. The association was strongest for long-term depressive symptoms where personality trait variables accounted for 49% of variance (Radjusted2). Our results confirm that ABI patients and significant others perceive personality changes, albeit in different dimensions. Pre- and post-ABI personality traits showed associations with rehabilitation outcomes, especially with emotional adjustment after the injury.

Stability of and change in substance use risk personality: Gender differences and smoking cigarettes among early adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Adolescents show a steadily increasing inclination toward health risk behaviors, including smoking cigarettes. There is ample evidence that personality traits are related to smoking behavior. However, less is known about the stability of and change in these personality traits during early adolescence and whether smoking behavior affects the developmental trajectories. Moreover, less is known about the influence of gender on the course of personality.

METHOD

Longitudinal data of three waves were used from 1121 early adolescents. To measure personality, the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale was used. Individual growth curve models were conducted to measure the stability, mean-level change and individual differences in change for personality.

RESULTS

Stability of personality was moderate for boys and ranged from moderate to high for girls. On average early adolescents became more impulsive and more sensation seeking over a period of 18 months. Furthermore, hopelessness for girls increased and the increase in sensation seeking was higher for girls than for boys. Third, smoking behavior was related to all personality traits, indicating that smoking adolescents are more anxious, hopeless, impulsive and sensation seeking than non-smoking adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are in line with the disruption hypothesis, i.e., during early adolescence there is a dip in personality maturity. There are clear differences between girls and boys in stability of and change in personality traits. Besides, although smoking behavior is related to personality, the change in personality is probably related to other variables.

A Changing Landscape of Health Opportunity in the United States: Increases in the Strength of Association Between Childhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Adult Health Between the 1990s and the 2010s

Understanding the changing health consequences of childhood socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) is highly relevant to policy debates on inequality and national and state goals to improve population health. However, changes in the strength of association between childhood SED and adult health over historic time are largely unexamined in the United States. The present study begins to address this knowledge gap. Data were from 2 national samples of adults collected in 1995 (n = 7,108) and 2012 (n = 3,577) as part of the Midlife in the United States study. Three measures of childhood SED (parents' occupational prestige, childhood poverty exposure, and parents' education) were combined into an aggregate index and examined separately. The association between childhood SED (aggregate index) and 5 health outcomes (body mass index, waist circumference, chronic conditions, functional limitations, and self-rated health) was stronger in the 2012 sample than the 1995 sample, with the magnitude of associations being approximately twice as large in the more recent sample. Results persisted after adjusting for age, sex, race, marital status, and number of children, and were similar across all 3 measures of childhood SED. The findings suggest that the socioeconomic circumstances of childhood might have become a stronger predictor of adult health in recent decades.

Influence of the Expression of Personality Traits on Growing Intensity of Interdialytic Disorders and Change of Pro-Health Behaviors in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of socio-demographic and clinical factors on personality trait expression and their relationship with more intense interdialytic disorders and changes in health behaviors of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Material/Methods

A total of 200 participants were recruited for the research (84 women and 116 men; aged 61±12 years): 160 patients had CKD stage G4–G5 and 40 healthy participants constituted a control group. A diagnostic poll method was used in the research employing the following questionnaires to collect socio-demographic and clinical data: Health Behavior Inventory (IZZ), Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Researcher’s Questionnaire Test.

Results

Statistically significant differences were found in the intensity of personal traits at different stages of treatment. The influence of factors resulting from CKD on the expression of personality traits increased with subsequent stages of treatment. Depression intensity was not connected with the expression of personality traits. A higher frequency of reported interdialytic disorders was significantly related to a higher degree of openness and conscientiousness and a lower degree of agreeableness. Increased extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness were significantly correlated with more intense health behaviors.

Conclusions

Personalities of patients with CKD changed with subsequent stages of treatment and were influenced by socio-demographic and clinical factors. Personalities affected the frequency of reported interdialytic disorders and health behaviors.

Individual and experiential predictors of character development across the deployment cycle

How soldiers adapt to and change in response to the deployment experience has received a great deal of attention. What predicts which soldiers are resilient and which soldiers decline in character strengths across the deployment transition? We examined this question in two analyses drawing from the same data source of soldiers deploying for the first time (Analysis 1: N = 179,026; Analysis 2: N = 85,285; Mage = 24.6–24.7 years old, SD = 4.87; 66.5–66.9% White). Specifically, we examined how individual (e.g. sociodemographic, military) and deployment (e.g. stressful experiences) characteristics predict character development across the deployment cycle. Character strengths were assessed once before and up to three times after soldiers’ return from deployment. Reproducing previous work, we found evidence for two classes of change—a resilient class (“stable high”) and a recovery class (“persistent low”). The strongest predictor of high, resilient character strength levels was better self-rated health at baseline. The findings are discussed in the context of the mechanisms that drive character development, evidence for post-traumatic growth, and practical implications for the U.S. Army.

Clustering of Social and Physical Pain Variables and Their Association With Mortality in Two Population-Based Cohorts

OBJECTIVE

Social pain and physical pain are related bidirectionally, but how these variables cluster in the population is unknown.

METHODS

This study included 2833 women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a community-based cohort of middle-aged women, and 3972 women from the Pathways Study, a population-based cohort of women diagnosed with American Joint Committee on Cancer stages I-IV breast cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2013. Women provided data on measures related to social pain (social network size, social support, loneliness, social well-being) and physical pain (sensitivity to pain, bodily pain) at study baseline. Analyzing each cohort separately, we used latent class analysis to evaluate social-physical pain clusters, logistic regression to evaluate predictors of categorization into clusters, and Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate associations of clusters with all-cause mortality. We also performed a meta-analysis to combine cohort mortality associations.

RESULTS

Each cluster analysis produced a "low social-physical pain" cluster (SWAN, 48.6%; Pathways, 35.2%) characterized by low social and pain symptoms, a "high social-physical pain" cluster (SWAN, 17.9%; Pathways, 17.9%) characterized by high symptoms, and a "low social/high physical pain" cluster of women with high pain and compromised social functioning but otherwise low social symptoms (SWAN, 33.5%; Pathways, 46.9%). In meta-analysis, categorization into the high social-physical pain cluster was associated with elevated mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.34, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.71, Q statistic = 0.782), compared with those in the low social-physical pain cluster.

CONCLUSIONS

In two cohorts of women, latent class analysis produced similar sets of social-physical pain clusters, with the same proportion having both high social and pain symptoms; women in this cluster had elevated mortality.

Personality and Falls Among Older Adults: Evidence From a Longitudinal Cohort

OBJECTIVES

Falls can have catastrophic consequences, especially for older adults. This study examined whether personality traits predict the incidence of falls in older age.

METHOD

Participants were older adults aged from 65 to 99 years (N = 4,759) drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. Personality traits and demographic factors were assessed at baseline. Falls were tracked for up to 11 years.

RESULTS

Over the follow-up period, 2,811 individuals reported falls. Cox regression analyses that included demographic covariates indicated that lower conscientiousness and higher neuroticism increased the risk of falling. Disease burden, depressive symptoms, and physical inactivity mediated the associations between both traits and falls incidence, whereas smoking status and handgrip strength mediated the neuroticism-falls incidence association.

DISCUSSION

This study provides new prospective evidence that personality predicts the incidence of falls in older adults and suggest that personality assessment may help identifying individuals at higher risk of falling.

Post-traumatic growth as positive personality change: Challenges, opportunities, and recommendations

OBJECTIVE

Post-traumatic growth typically refers to enduring positive psychological change experienced as a result of adversity, trauma, or highly challenging life circumstances. Critics have challenged insights from much of the prior research on this topic, pinpointing its significant methodological limitations. In response to these critiques, we propose that post-traumatic growth can be more accurately captured in terms of personality change-an approach that affords a more rigorous examination of the phenomenon.

METHOD

We outline a set of conceptual and methodological questions and considerations for future work on the topic of post-traumatic growth.

RESULTS

We provide a series of recommendations for researchers from across the disciplines of clinical/counseling, developmental, health, personality, and social psychology and beyond, who are interested in improving the quality of research examining resilience and growth in the context of adversity.

CONCLUSION

We are hopeful that these recommendations will pave the way for a more accurate understanding of the ubiquity, durability, and causal processes underlying post-traumatic growth.

Changes in views on aging in later adulthood: the role of cardiovascular events

A number of longitudinal studies have pointed to the long-term impact of different views on aging (VoA) on health in later life, whereas the reverse relationship has rarely been examined. Serious cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction or stroke are life-threatening events which might in turn lead to changes in VoA. The present longitudinal study examined the effect of a cardiovascular event (CVE) on VoA over a three-year period using pooled data from three waves of the German Ageing Survey (2008, 2011, 2014, age range: 40-95 years). In order to account for alternative explanations for changes in VoA, individuals without CVE (n = 200) were matched to individuals who experienced a CVE (n = 202) using a propensity score matching procedure. Compared to individuals without CVE, individuals who experienced a CVE showed adverse changes in three VoA indicators (self-perceptions of aging as associated with physical losses/with ongoing development; subjective age). These results suggest that CVE can in fact change how individuals view their own aging. According to previous studies, this can lead to future health changes and thus become a health-related downward spiral. Health promotion programs could, therefore, profit by adding specific VoA interventions for individuals who experienced a CVE.

Clinical Approach to Personality Change Due to Another Medical Condition

BACKGROUND

Medical personality change (MPC) is a codable diagnosis (i.e., F07.0) that deserves consideration when a patient is inexplicably no longer "acting like him/herself." Its presentation ranges from subtle to severe and is often characterized by bafflingly poor judgment and impairment in several aspects of a person's life. Despite the global impact that MPC can have on a patient's functioning, occupation, and relationships, this condition receives far less clinical consideration than better known syndromes such as depression or anxiety and is often likely incorrectly formulated as such.

OBJECTIVE/METHODS

This article provides a clinically focused review of MPC. We review its clinical assessment followed by a review of its subtypes, which we have categorized to reflect the behavioral correlates of known frontotemporal-subcortical circuits. These include the apathetic type (ventromedial prefrontal cortex), the labile and disinhibited types (orbitofrontal cortex), and the aggressive and paranoid types (medial temporal lobes).

RESULTS

For each of these 3 categories, we describe the clinical presentation and review management strategies. For each category, we focus on 3 common causes for MPC-traumatic brain injury, Huntington disease, and brain tumors-which we have selected because clinical features of MPC due to these conditions generalize to many other etiologies of MPC.

CONCLUSIONS

MPC warrants clinical attention for the range of dysfunction and distress it can cause. It also deserves further scientific study to better characterize its phenotypes, to tailor instruments for its clinical assessment, and to identify effective treatments.

Personality as a Resource for Labor Market Participation among Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions

Background: The link between personality traits and employment status in individuals with chronic health conditions (CHCs) is largely unexplored. In this study, we examined this association among 21,173 individuals with CHCs and whether this association differs between individuals suffering from a heart disease, depression, anxiety, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, musculoskeletal disease (MSD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This study was conducted using baseline data from the Lifelines Cohort Study. Employment status and the presence of CHCs were determined by questionnaire data. The Revised Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) was used to measure eight personality facet traits. We conducted disease-generic and disease-specific logistic regression analyses. Results: Workers with higher scores on self-consciousness (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.02), impulsivity (1.03; 1.02-1.04), excitement seeking (1.02; 1.01-1.02), competence (1.08; 1.07-1.10) and self-discipline (1.04; 1.03-1.05) were more often employed. Adults with higher scores on anger-hostility (0.97; 0.97-0.98), vulnerability (0.98; 0.97-0.99), and deliberation (0.96; 0.95-0.97) were least often employed. Personality facets were associated strongest with employment status among individuals suffering from MSD and weakest in individuals with T2DM. Conclusions: Personality might be a key resource to continue working despite having a CHC. This may be relevant for the development of targeted personality-focused interventions.

The power of personality in successful ageing: a comprehensive review of larger quantitative studies

In this paper, we highlighted links between personality traits and successful ageing through a systematic review of recent empirical studies. Particularly, we addressed the question of whether personality traits are related to successful ageing and, if so, why and how? Answers to this question provided, for example, arguments that supported personality's role in planning an individual's future based on self-knowledge, thereby contributing to a sense of identity throughout their life. Then, considering longitudinal studies, we examined whether personality is stable over one's life course, or does it change and, if so, why and under what conditions? Answers to this question gave substance to the idea that a stable personality allows for continuous and consistent development. In addition, certain personality changes are likely to allow an individual to develop the resilience to better adapt to life's challenges. Therefore, the arguments brought by these two questions can help clarify the modulating role of personality for successful ageing via health and well-being outcomes. These insights may contribute to the development of new prevention approaches, more focused on inter- and intraindividual differences, to promote successful ageing.

Design and methods of a national, multicenter, randomized and controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a physical activity program to improve health-related quality of life and reduce fatigue in women with metastatic breast cancer: ABLE02 trial

BACKGROUND

Patients with a metastatic breast cancer suffer from a deteriorated health-related quality of life and numerous symptoms such as pain, severe fatigue and a decrease of their physical fitness. As the feasibility of a physical activity program has been demonstrated in this population, ABLE02 aims to assess the efficacy of a 6 month-physical activity program using connected devices to improve health-related quality of life and to reduce fatigue in women with metastatic breast cancer.

METHODS

ABLE02 is a prospective, national, multicenter, randomized, controlled and open-label study. A total of 244 patients with a metastatic breast cancer, with at least one positive hormone receptor and a first-line chemotherapy planned, will be randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to: (i) the intervention arm to receive physical activity recommendations, an activity tracker to wear 24 h a day during the whole intervention (6 months) with at least three weekly walking sessions and quizzes each week on physical activity and nutrition (ii) the control arm to receive physical activity recommendations only. Health-related quality of life will be assessed every 6 weeks and main assessments will be conducted at baseline, M3, M6, M12 and M18 to evaluate the clinical, physical, biological and psychological parameters and survival of participants. All questionnaires will be completed on a dedicated application.

DISCUSSION

An activity program based on a smartphone application linked to an activity tracker may help to improve quality of life and reduce fatigue of patients with a metastatic breast cancer. The growth of e-health offers the opportunity to get real-time data as well as improving patient empowerment in order to change long-term behaviors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT number: NCT04354233 .

Change in weight and personality in middle-aged and older adults

Objective: Personality is associated with weight change and the development of obesity across adulthood. The present study examines whether significant weight change, including weight loss and weight gain, is related to personality change in a large longitudinal sample of middle-aged and older adults.Design: Participants were adults aged 50-92 years (N > 5000; 59% women, Mean age = 65.51, SD = 8.20) drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Personality, demographic, health and staff assessed weight and height were obtained at baseline and 8 years later.Main Outcome Measures: Personality traits.Results: Both weight loss and weight gain greater than 10% of baseline weight were related to a steeper decline in extraversion, openness and conscientiousness. Weight loss was further associated with the maintenance of neuroticism and to a steeper decline in agreeableness. This overall pattern of personality change was also associated with both unhealthy and healthy weight change. The associations were not moderated by BMI and generally remained significant after accounting for disease burden.Conclusion: The present study provides new evidence that both weight loss and weight gain are related to change in personality.

Associations Between Cognitive Abilities and 20-Year Personality Changes in Older Adults in the ILSE Study: Does Health Matter?

OBJECTIVES

We used data from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on Adult Development (ILSE study) to investigate whether associations of cognitive abilities with late-life personality changes are moderated by individuals' physical health.

METHOD

Individuals born between 1930 and 1932 (n = 473; mean baseline age: 62.87 years) were assessed up to four times over a period of about 20 years (M = 20.34 years). Cognitive abilities were assessed based on multiple tests representing various cognitive functions. In addition, the Big Five personality traits were measured. Study participants' health was rated by a physician based on several in-depth medical examinations.

RESULTS

Health appeared as a significant moderator of the associations between cognitive abilities and personality trajectories: First, lower cognitive abilities were associated with an increase in neuroticism in individuals with poor health, but not in those with good health. Second, lower cognitive abilities were related with an increase in agreeableness in older adults with good health, but with a decrease in agreeableness among those with poor health. Third, better cognitive abilities were associated with stability in conscientiousness, but only among individuals with poorer health.

DISCUSSION

Our findings suggest that once health is compromised, cognitive abilities may become a compensatory resource to prevent undesirable personality changes.

Personality, disability-free life years, and life expectancy: Individual participant meta-analysis of 131,195 individuals from 10 cohort studies

OBJECTIVE

We examined how personality traits of the Five Factor Model were related to years of healthy life years lost (mortality and disability) for individuals and the population.

METHOD

Participants were 131,195 individuals from 10 cohort studies from Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States (n = 43,935 from seven cohort studies for the longitudinal analysis of disability, assessed using scales of Activities of Daily Living).

RESULTS

Lower Conscientiousness was associated with higher mortality and disability risk, but only when Conscientiousness was below its median level. If the excess risk associated with low Conscientiousness had been absent, population life expectancy would have been 1.3 years longer and disability-free life 1.0 years longer. Lower emotional stability was related to shorter life expectancy, but only among those in the lowest 15% of the distribution, and disability throughout the distribution: if the excess risk associated with low emotional stability had been absent, population life expectancy would have been 0.4 years longer and disability-free life 2.4 years longer.

CONCLUSIONS

Personality traits of low Conscientiousness and low emotional stability are associated with reduced healthy life expectancy of individuals and population.

Longitudinal Experience–Wide Association Studies—A Framework for Studying Personality Change

The importance of personality for predicting life outcomes in the domains of love, work, and health is well established, as is evidence that personality traits, while relatively stable, can change. However, little is known about the sources and processes that drive changes in personality traits and how such changes might impact important life outcomes. In this paper, we make the case that the research paradigms and methodological approaches commonly used in personality psychology need to be revised to advance our understanding of the sources and processes of personality change. We propose Longitudinal Experience–Wide Association Studies as a framework for studying personality change that can address the limitations of current methods, and we discuss strategies for overcoming some of the challenges associated with Longitudinal Experience–Wide Association Studies. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology

Association of big-5 personality traits with cognitive impairment and dementia: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Personality traits have been liked to cognitive outcomes such as dementia, but whether these associations are robust to the effects of third variables remains the subject of debate. We examined the role of socioeconomic status, depression (history and depressive symptoms), health behaviours and chronic conditions in the association of the big-5 personality traits with cognitive performance, cognitive impairment and incidence of dementia.

METHODS

Data on 6135 persons (30% women), aged 60-83 years in 2012/13, are drawn from the Whitehall II Study. Participants responded to the 26-item Midlife Development Inventory to assess personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism), underwent cognitive testing in 2012/13 and 2015/16 and were followed for incidence of dementia (N=231) until 2019.

RESULTS

Logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, suggested a cross-sectional association with cognitive impairment for four of the five traits but only neuroticism was associated with incident cognitive impairment. All associations were completely attenuated when the analyses were adjusted for depression. Cox regression (mean follow-up: 6.18 years) adjusted for sociodemographic variables showed higher conscientiousness (HR per SD increment=0.72; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.81) and extraversion (HR=0.85; 95% CI 0.75 to 0.97) to be associated with lower dementia risk; higher neuroticism (HR=1.32; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.49) was associated with increased risk. Further adjustment for depression led to only conscientiousness retaining an association with dementia (HR=0.81; 95% CI 0.69 to 0.96), which was robust to adjustment for all covariates (HR=0.84; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.91; P=0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our results show that only conscientiousness has an association with incidence of dementia that is not attributable to socioeconomic status or depression. The association of neuroticism with dementia was explained by depression.

Hurricane exposure and personality development

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the role of natural disaster adversity on personality development in the wake of a hurricane, and the moderating role of previous hurricane exposure.

METHOD

We used a two-wave longitudinal design and a diverse sample of emerging adults (n = 691; mean age = 22 years; 72% females, 27% European American, 29% Latino, 23% Asian American, 15% African American, 6% Multiracial/Other) who were exposed to one of the most damaging hurricanes on record, though to differing degrees. Immediately after the hurricane, we assessed objective individual-level hurricane exposure, previous exposure to hurricanes, demographics, socioeconomic status, and Big Five personality traits. One year later, we re-assessed Big Five personality traits.

RESULTS

Using latent change models, we found significant individual differences both in participants' initial levels of personality traits at baseline, as well as in their developmental patterns of change in the year following the hurricane. However, there was no evidence of mean-level change. Moreover, neither hurricane exposure level, nor its interaction with previous exposure showed statistically significant associations with the rates of change in any personality trait.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings support a stability account, whereby individuals largely maintain their personality dispositions following an adverse life event, in this case a hurricane.

Interpersonal relationship challenges among stroke survivors and family caregivers

A strong interpersonal relationship after stroke is important for the well-being of survivors and family caregivers. However, as many as 54% of families experience relationship problems after stroke and as many as 38% of couples experience overt conflict. The purpose of this study is to enhance understanding about relationship challenges among stroke dyads and to identify implications for direct practice in social work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with N = 19 care dyads. Qualitative data were analyzed through an interpretive description lens. Seven themes about relationship challenges were identified. Findings highlight areas to consider in promoting strong relationships between survivors and family caregivers. Social workers may have the opportunity to assist dyads with disrupting negative communication cycles, strengthening empathy and collaboration, and achieving a balance so that each person's needs are met.

Maladaptive Personality Traits and 10-Year Course of Psychiatric and Medical Symptoms and Functional Impairment Following Trauma

Background

Personality is a major predictor of many mental and physical disorders, but its contributions to illness course are understudied.

Purpose

The current study aimed to explore whether personality is associated with a course of psychiatric and medical illness over 10 years following trauma.

Methods

World Trade Center (WTC) responders (N = 532) completed the personality inventory for DSM-5, which measures both broad domains and narrow facets. Responders' mental and physical health was assessed in the decade following the WTC disaster during annual monitoring visits at a WTC Health Program clinic. Multilevel modeling was used in an exploratory manner to chart the course of health and functioning, and examine associations of maladaptive personality domains and facets with intercepts (initial illness) and slopes (course) of illness trajectories.

Results

Three maladaptive personality domains-negative affectivity, detachment and psychoticism-were uniquely associated with initial posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); detachment and psychoticism were also associated with initial functional impairment. Five facets-emotional lability, anhedonia, callousness, distractibility and perceptual dysregulation-were uniquely associated with initial mental and physical health and functional impairment. Anxiousness and depressivity facets were associated with worse initial levels of psychiatric outcomes only. With regard to illness trajectory, callousness and perceptual dysregulation were associated with the increase in PTSD symptoms. Anxiousness was associated with greater persistence of respiratory symptoms.

Conclusions

Several personality domains and facets were associated with initial levels and long-term course of illness and functional impairment in a traumatized population. Results inform the role of maladaptive personality in the development and maintenance of chronic mental-physical comorbidity. Personality might constitute a transdiagnostic prognostic and treatment target.

A Validation Study of the Mini-IPIP Five-Factor Personality Scale in Adults With Cancer

The Mini International Personality Item Pool (Mini-IPIP) is a brief measure of the Five-Factor Model of personality with documented validity in healthy samples of adults and could be useful for assessing personality in patient populations such as individuals with cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Mini-IPIP in 2 samples of adults with cancer. A sample of 369 (Sample 1) and a sample of 459 (Sample 2) adults with cancer completed an online survey including the Mini-IPIP. To assess criterion validity, Sample 2 completed measures of emotional distress. Analyses included internal consistency (Samples 1 and 2), confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs; Samples 1 and 2), and correlations and a structural regression model to examine the associations between the 5 personality factors and emotional distress (Sample 2 only). Results showed that the Mini-IPIP demonstrated levels of internal consistency and CFA model fit that were similar to previous validation studies conducted in the general population. Consistent with prior research and theory, this study also found that personality factors measured by the Mini-IPIP were associated with measures of emotional distress in Sample 2. These findings suggest the potential utility of the Mini-IPIP in both research and clinical settings involving individuals with cancer.

Personality and Neuropsychological Profiles in Friedreich Ataxia

Friedreich ataxia, an autosomal recessive mitochondrial disease, is the most frequent inherited ataxia. Many studies have attempted to identify cognitive and affective changes associated with the disease, but conflicting results have been obtained, depending on the tests used and because many of the samples studied were very small. We investigated personality and neuropsychological characteristics in a cohort of 47 patients with genetically confirmed disease. The neuropsychological battery assessed multiple cognition domains: processing speed, attention, working memory, executive functions, verbal memory, vocabulary, visual reasoning, emotional recognition, and social cognition. Personality was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory, and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory. We found deficits of sustained attention, processing speed, semantic capacities, and verbal fluency only partly attributable to motor deficit or depressed mood. Visual reasoning, memory, and learning were preserved. Emotional processes and social cognition were unimpaired. We also detected a change in automatic processes, such as reading. Personality traits were characterized by high persistence and low self-transcendence. The mild cognitive impairment observed may be a developmental rather than degenerative problem, due to early cerebellum dysfunction, with the impairment of cognitive and emotional processing. Disease manifestations at crucial times for personality development may also have an important impact on personality traits.

Personality, depression and anxiety in primary Sjogren's syndrome - Association with sociodemographic factors and comorbidity

Objective

Patients with primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS) have diminished health quality and fatigue, arthralgia along with dryness of the mouth and eyes have major impact on their psychological and social aspects of life. The purpose of this study was to determine psychological features of patients with pSS. We analyzed personality, depression and anxiety of patients with primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS) in comparison with patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls (HC) and assessed their association with sociodemographic factors and comorbidity.

Methods

In 105 pSS patients (mean age 51.34 years, mean disease duration 5.98 years), 52 RA patients (mean age 51.37 years, mean disease duration 8.10 years) and 54 HC (mean age 51.35 years) clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were determined and results analyzed. At enrollment patients and controls completed the Revisited NEO Personality Inventory Five-Factor model (NEO-PI-R), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS [Version 16.0]. The relative size of the effect was assessed based on standardized estimates of effect size (d).

Results

Patients with pSS, similarly to RA patients had higher scores of Neuroticism (d = 0.46, p = 0.007) and lower scores of Extraversion (d = 0.51, p = 0.001) and Openness for experience (d = 0.65, p = 0.013) compared to HC. There was no significant differences between pSS group and HC in the depression (d = 0.171, p>0.05). However, patients with pSS had higher anxiety in comparison to HC (p<0.0001). In multivariate models, education and satisfaction with family relationships were significant predictors for psychological characteristics of patients, independently of clinical diagnosis.

Conclusions

Our study is the first to show that patients with pSS scored high on neuroticism and anxiety and low on sociability. Education and satisfaction with family relationships predisposed to their psychological profile. Psychological assessment of patients with pSS may improve understanding and treatment of this clinical condition.

Alcohol use and personality trait change: pooled analysis of six cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Personality has been associated with alcohol use, but less is known about how alcohol use may influence long-term personality trait change.

METHODS

The present study examines associations between alcohol use and change in the five major personality traits across two measurement occasions (mean follow-up of 5.6 years). A total of 39 722 participants (54% women) were pooled from six cohort studies for an individual-participant meta-analysis. Alcohol use was measured as (1) average alcohol consumption, (2) frequency of binge drinking, (3) symptoms of alcohol use disorder, and (4) a global indicator of risky alcohol use. Changes in the five major personality traits (extraversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience) were used as outcomes.

RESULTS

Risky alcohol use was associated with increasing extraversion [0.25 T-scores over the mean follow-up of 5.6 years; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.44] and decreasing emotional stability (-0.28; 95% CI -0.48 to -0.08), agreeableness (-0.67; 95% CI -0.87 to -0.36), and conscientiousness (-0.58; 95% CI -0.79 to -0.38). Except the association between alcohol use and extraversion, these associations were consistent across cohort studies and across different measures of alcohol use.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that alcohol use is associated with personality trait changes in adulthood.

Personality Traits in Patients with Neuroepithelial Tumors - A Prospective Study

Aim of this study was to analyze personality traits in patients with neuroepithelial brain tumors. Personality alteration is a common feature in brain tumor patients, but not much is known about associations between specific personality changes and brain tumors. We assessed potential factors influencing personality such as tumor location, tumor grade and tumor volume. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) for the five factors of personality were acquired. Patients had lower scores regarding the factor openness and higher scores regarding the BDI-II compared to the norm population. No significant influencing factors (tumor entity, location) were found regarding personality traits. Neuroticism was associated with depression, whereas extraversion showed an opposed association. Patients with intrinsic brain tumors have differences in personality traits compared to the control population, with an emphasis on the factor openness. No significant confounding factors like tumor grade, entity, or location were found for personality traits.

Does freedom make a difference? : An empirical investigation of differences between subjective well-being and perceived capabilities amongst cancer patients

Perceived capabilities-a subjective operationalization of Sen's concept of capability-and subjective well-being are increasingly regarded as relevant information about individual well-being to guide resources allocation in healthcare. Although they refer to different notions, both types of measures rely on self-reported information and little is known as to how they compare together empirically. The aim of this paper is to investigate differences between measures of subjective well-being and of perceived capabilities in terms of their correlation with dimensions of health-related quality of life using panel data concerning a sample of 293 breast cancer and melanoma patients. Regression analyses suggest that the measures capture quite different aspects of the patients' welfare. Differences in the correlation with dimensions of health also seem consistent with the underlying notions to which these measures refer. However, our findings also suggest that future researches should aim at determining how measures of perceived capabilities may be influenced by individual personality traits.

Activity Engagement and Activity-Related Experiences: The Role of Personality

Objectives

The associations of personality with activity participation and well-being have been well studied. However, less is known concerning the relationship between personality and specific aspects of activity engagement in older adults. We conducted a fine-grained examination of the effects of extraversion and conscientiousness on reported activity engagement-which we define as participation, time allocated, and affective experience-during 8 everyday activities.

Method

Data were obtained using a day reconstruction measure from a subgroup of participants in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS: N = 5,484; mean age = 67.98 years).

Results

We found mixed support for hypotheses suggesting that specific personality traits would be associated with activity participation, time allocated, and activity-affective experience. For example, extraverts were more likely to socialize and experienced higher socializing-related positive affect, but did not spend more time socializing.

Discussion

Results are discussed in light of the value of including personality in, and its contribution to, studies of activity engagement in later life. In addition, the need to acknowledge the complexity of the concept of activity engagement in future research is highlighted.

Four-year reciprocal relationships between personality and functional ability in older adults with and without sensory impairment: focus on neuroticism and agreeableness

OBJECTIVES

Personality traits have been found to influence health and functional ability (FA) via multiple pathways. However, personality traits may also change in reaction to constraints in FA, particularly in more vulnerable individuals with high risk of decline in independent functioning in daily life (e.g. older adults with sensory impairment). Therefore, conceptually anchored in the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF model), this study investigated reciprocal relationships between personality, focusing on neuroticism and agreeableness, and indicators of FA (i.e. activities of daily living and subjective autonomy) as well as the potentially moderating role of sensory impairment status.

METHOD

The study sample consisted of 387 older adults (mean age at T1: M = 82.50 years, SD = 4.71 years) who were either sensory impaired (SI; i.e. visually or hearing impaired) or sensory unimpaired (UI). A total of 168 individuals were reassessed four years later.

RESULTS

Depending on sensory status, personality acted both as predictor and as outcome of FA. Neuroticism was more strongly related with later FA outcomes in SI than in UI individuals. FA variables, in turn, were significant predictors of later neuroticism in UI older adults only and of later agreeableness in SI individuals only.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the late-life personality-FA interplay needs to be considered bidirectional, and the direction of associations varies systematically as a function of sensory impairment status.