5: Personality & Physical Health Flashcards
how does conscientiousness influence longevity?
the more conscientious you are, the longer you live
what are the 4 pathways for personality influencing physical health?
direct causation
correlational (eg factor X contributes to both)
causal chain (eg personality = behaviour = health)
somatogenic (health = personalit trait)
what characterises an A type person?
competitive, ambitious, driven, impatient, aggressive, hostile
what is a healthcare outcome more correlated with type A personality?
more likely to develop CVD
how do hostility focused interviews compare to self-report measures of type A correlate with CVD?
Self-report type scales showed less of a correlation than the hostility-focused interviews
what is the ‘toxic’ trait within type A?
hostility: Anger and hostility are significantly associated with reactivity to stress and heart disease incidence & prognosis
what characterises someone with type C (cancer-prone) personality?
high E low N - suppresses and represses emotions
- now very questionable
- more likely cancer -> type C not vice versa
what characterises type D (depressive) personality type?
Increased risk of feeling depressed
Lack of social resources to help them cope with these negative emotions
how does conscientiousness lead to better health practically?
better diet, less smoking/drinking, regular exercise, healthier coping mechanisms
how does neuroticism influence health?
increased risk of depression/related & reduced longevity
why might neuroticism cause reduced longevity?
encompasses the anger and hostility linked to type A
- some studies say high neuroticism = greater longevity
what is ‘healthy neuroticism’?
high anxiety but low depression & vulnerability
(engage in preventative behaviours)
what are the unhealthy components of extraversion?
impulsivity & excitement seeking behaviours
what are the healthy components of extraversion?
sociability promotes good health and helps relieve stress = better longevity
how does openness to experience influence longevity?
high o = greater longevity
how can low birth weight influence personality later in life?
Very/Extremely low birth weight (V/E LBW) associated with adult personality e.g.
Lower E and O
Higher N, A, C
Higher ‘Cautiousness’
what are the 3 potential mechanisms for LBW influencing personality?
Extra-uterine brain development
Subsequent illness
Higher parental monitoring and behavioural restrictions
how does chronic disease influence personality?
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.
what are the 4 potential mechanisms for chronic disease influencing personality?
Neural function
Coping with distress and challenges of disease (N).
Fatigue (E).
Lowered ability to organise life (C)
what are the 5 Ts of looking at personality practical applications
targeting, tailoring, training, treatment, transformation
what is involved in the tailoring element of applying personality traits?
Tailoring interventions to personality profiles
Low in conscientiousness - support them in planning
what is involved in the training element of applying personality traits?
Help those who aren’t extraverted increase their social network
what is involved in the transformation element of applying personality traits?
Tell people with chronic health conditions that their personality might change - helps them and those around them cope
