Ringwald WR, Kaurin A, DuPont CM, Gianaros PJ, Marsland AL, Muldoon MF, Wright AG, Manuck SB. The personality meta-trait of stability and carotid artery atherosclerosis.
J Pers 2023;
91:271-284. [PMID:
35366346 PMCID:
PMC10760807 DOI:
10.1111/jopy.12716]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Several personality traits increase the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Because many of these traits are correlated, their associations with disease risk could reflect shared variance, rather than unique contributions of each trait. We examined a higher-order personality trait of Stability as related to preclinical atherosclerosis and tested whether any such relationship might be explained by correlated variation in cardiometabolic risk factors.
METHOD
Among 798 community volunteers, lower-order traits of Neuroticism, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were modeled as latent variables (from self- and informant ratings) and used to estimate the second-order factor, Stability. Cardiometabolic risk was similarly modeled from indicators of glycemic control, blood pressure, adiposity, and lipids. Carotid artery atherosclerosis was measured as intima-media thickness (IMT) by duplex ultrasonography.
RESULT
A structural equation model incorporating direct and indirect effects showed lower Stability associated with greater IMT, and this relationship was accounted for by the indirect pathway via cardiometabolic risk. Secondary analyses showed that: (1) Neuroticism, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were unrelated to IMT independent of Stability; and (2) Stability predicted variation in IMT when estimated from informant-, but not self-rated, traits.
CONCLUSION
Personality traits may associate with atherosclerotic burden through their shared, rather than unique, variance, as reflected in Stability.
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