links of personality and physical health

Question 1

LINK 1- PERSONALITY AND PHYSCIAL ACTIVITY

Answer 1

o Physical inactivity identified as one of the leading risk factors of global morality (Lee et al., 2012)
o Personality traits associated with sports performance and physical activity but also unhealthy exercise behaviour
o Athletes competing in national/international competitions report higher conscientiousness and lower neuroticism than do those competing in regional competitions (Allen et al., 2011)
o High extraversion and conscientiousness and low neuroticism relate to high levels of physical activity (Rhodes and smith 2006)
o Older adults with high extraversion have greater muscular strength
o Also unhealthy- exercise addiction: excessive exercise patterns with potential negative consequences such as overuse injuries; associated with eating disorders. Excitement seeking (extraversion), achievement striving (conscientiousness) and straightforwardness/compliance (agreeableness) have strongest associations with exercise addiction (Lichentien et al.. 2014)

Question 2

LINK 1- PERSONALITY AND SMOKING

Answer 2

o Hakulien at al., 2015- meta analysis- finding ….
o Current smoking associated with higher extraversion, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness
o Non smoker: higher extraversion and lower conscientiousness predicted smoking initiation
o Ex smokers: higher neuroticism predicted smoking relapse

Question 3

LINK 1 - PERSONALITY AND HEALTH CARE USE

Answer 3

o Hajek et al., 2020- meta analysis finding……
o Higher neuroticism linked to increases use of practice/physician visits/ dental care use/ use of medication/ use of any emergency department

Question 4

LINK 2- HOSTILITY AND CHD

Answer 4

• Friedman and Roseman 1959- identified a coronary prone behaviour pattern which they labelled type A personality:
• Type A personality individuals are…
• ..Achievement-oriented and competitive
• ..Hardworking and at high levels of alertness
• ..Unhappy with time wasting and serious about deadlines
• ..Easily roused to anger when goals are obstructed
• HOWEVER booth-Kewley and Friedman (1987) found type A reliable but modestly associated with coronary heart disease.
• Explanations of effects of type A- hostility andnegative affect seem to be toxic components- the behaviour causally linked to the development of coronary heart disease of type A personality
• Childa and Steptoe, 2009, meta analysis- hostility and anger was associated with a 20% increased risk of coronary heart disease and led to poorer outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease

Question 5

LINK 2 - C REACTIVE PROTEINS AND CHD

Answer 5

• Suarez et al, 2002- found very hostile men produce higher levels of C-reactive proteins in their immune system. C reactive proteins are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease