5: Personality & Physical Health

Question 1

how does conscientiousness influence longevity?

Answer 1

the more conscientious you are, the longer you live

Question 2

what are the 4 pathways for personality influencing physical health?

Answer 2

direct causation
correlational (eg factor X contributes to both)
causal chain (eg personality = behaviour = health)
somatogenic (health = personalit trait)

Question 3

what characterises an A type person?

Answer 3

competitive, ambitious, driven, impatient, aggressive, hostile

Question 4

what is a healthcare outcome more correlated with type A personality?

Answer 4

more likely to develop CVD

Question 5

how do hostility focused interviews compare to self-report measures of type A correlate with CVD?

Answer 5

Self-report type scales showed less of a correlation than the hostility-focused interviews

Question 6

what is the ‘toxic’ trait within type A?

Answer 6

hostility: Anger and hostility are significantly associated with reactivity to stress and heart disease incidence & prognosis

Question 7

what characterises someone with type C (cancer-prone) personality?

Answer 7

high E low N - suppresses and represses emotions
- now very questionable
- more likely cancer -> type C not vice versa

Question 8

what characterises type D (depressive) personality type?

Answer 8

Increased risk of feeling depressed
Lack of social resources to help them cope with these negative emotions

Question 9

how does conscientiousness lead to better health practically?

Answer 9

better diet, less smoking/drinking, regular exercise, healthier coping mechanisms

Question 10

how does neuroticism influence health?

Answer 10

increased risk of depression/related & reduced longevity

Question 11

why might neuroticism cause reduced longevity?

Answer 11

encompasses the anger and hostility linked to type A
- some studies say high neuroticism = greater longevity

Question 12

what is ‘healthy neuroticism’?

Answer 12

high anxiety but low depression & vulnerability
(engage in preventative behaviours)

Question 13

what are the unhealthy components of extraversion?

Answer 13

impulsivity & excitement seeking behaviours

Question 14

what are the healthy components of extraversion?

Answer 14

sociability promotes good health and helps relieve stress = better longevity

Question 15

how does openness to experience influence longevity?

Answer 15

high o = greater longevity

Question 16

how can low birth weight influence personality later in life?

Answer 16

Very/Extremely low birth weight (V/E LBW) associated with adult personality e.g.
Lower E and O
Higher N, A, C
Higher ‘Cautiousness’

Question 17

what are the 3 potential mechanisms for LBW influencing personality?

Answer 17

Extra-uterine brain development
Subsequent illness
Higher parental monitoring and behavioural restrictions

Question 18

how does chronic disease influence personality?

Answer 18

Dose-dependent’ decreases in E, ES(N), C & O.
The more chronic health conditions, the greater the change (reduced extraversion)
Disease-specific effects
greatest changes for stroke.
Least change for cancer.

Question 19

what are the 4 potential mechanisms for chronic disease influencing personality?

Answer 19

Neural function
Coping with distress and challenges of disease (N).
Fatigue (E).
Lowered ability to organise life (C)

Question 20

what are the 5 Ts of looking at personality practical applications

Answer 20

targeting, tailoring, training, treatment, transformation

Question 21

what is involved in the tailoring element of applying personality traits?

Answer 21

Tailoring interventions to personality profiles
Low in conscientiousness - support them in planning

Question 22

what is involved in the training element of applying personality traits?

Answer 22

Help those who aren’t extraverted increase their social network

Question 23

what is involved in the transformation element of applying personality traits?

Answer 23

Tell people with chronic health conditions that their personality might change - helps them and those around them cope