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

  • Lynn Williams
  • , Rory C. O'Connor
  • , Siobhan Howard
  • , Brian M. Hughes
  • , Derek W. Johnston
  • , Julia L. Hay
  • , Daryl B. O'Connor
  • , Christopher A. Lewis
  • , Eamonn Ferguson
  • , Noel Sheehy
  • , Madeleine A. Grealy
  • , Ronan E. O'Carroll

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

184 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)63-69
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume64
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Health-related behavior
  • Neuroticism
  • Social support
  • Type-D personality

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