Type-D personality mechanisms of effect: The role of health-related behavior and social support

Citation

Williams L, O'Connor R, Howard S, Hughes BM, Johnston DW, Hay JL, O'Connor DB, Lewis CA, Ferguson E, Sheehy N, Grealy MA & O'Carroll R (2008) Type-D personality mechanisms of effect: The role of health-related behavior and social support. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 64 (1), pp. 63-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.06.008

Abstract
Objective: To (a) investigate the prevalence of type-D personality (the conjoint effects of negative affectivity and social inhibition) in a healthy British and Irish population; (b) to test the influence of type-D on health-related behavior, and (c) to determine if these relationships are explained by neuroticism. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed; 1012 healthy young adults (225 males, 787 females, mean age 20.5 years) from the United Kingdom and Ireland completed measures of type-D personality, health behaviors, social support, and neuroticism. Results: The prevalence of type-D, was found to be 38.5%, significantly higher than that reported in other European countries. In addition, type-D individuals reported performing significantly fewer health-related behaviors and lower levels of social support than non-type-D individuals. These relationships remained significant after controlling for neuroticism. Conclusion: These findings provide new evidence on type-D and suggest a role for health-related behavior in explaining the link between type-D and poor clinical prognosis in cardiac patients.

Keywords
Adult; Adults; age; BEHAVIOR; British; C; Countries; Design; evidence; Female; Females; Health; HEALTH behavior; INDIVIDUALS; INHIBITION; INVESTIGATE; IRELAND; IRISH; LEVEL; levels; Male; MALES; MECHANISM; MECHANISMS; method; methods; Neuroticism; objective; other; patient; Patients; Personality; Population; Prevalence; PROGNOSIS; relationship; relationships; Role; social inhibition; Social support; support; Type D personality; United Kingdom; YOUNG adults; Social networks Psychological aspects; Interpersonal relations

Journal
Journal of Psychosomatic Research: Volume 64, Issue 1