Interaction of personality traits with social deprivation in determining mental wellbeing and health behaviours

Packard, C. et al. (2012) Interaction of personality traits with social deprivation in determining mental wellbeing and health behaviours. Journal of Public Health, 34(4), pp. 615-624. (doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fds030)

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Abstract

Background: Associations between personality traits, mental wellbeing and good health behaviours were examined to understand further the social and psychological context of the health divide. <p/>Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 666 subjects recruited from areas of high and low socioeconomic deprivation had personality traits and mental wellbeing assessed, and lifestyle behaviours quantified. Regression models (using deprivation as a moderating variable) assessed the extent to which personality traits and mental wellbeing predicted health behaviour. <p/>Results: Deprived (vs. affluent) subjects exhibited similar levels of extraversion but higher levels of neuroticism and psychoticism, more hopelessness, less sense of coherence, lower self-esteem and lower self-efficacy (all P< 0.001). They ate less fruit and vegetables, smoked more and took less aerobic exercise (all P< 0.001). In the deprived group, personality traits were significantly more important predictors of mental wellbeing than in the least deprived group (P< 0.01 for interaction), and mental wellbeing and extraversion appeared more strongly related to good health behaviours. <p/>Conclusions: Persistence of a social divide in health may be related to interactions between personality, mental wellbeing and the adoption of good health behaviours in deprived areas. Effectiveness of health messages may be enhanced by accommodating the variation in the levels of extraversion, neuroticism, hopelessness and sense of coherence.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Batty, Mr David and Messow, Dr Martina and McLean, Dr Jennifer and McConnachie, Professor Alex and Shiels, Professor Paul and Millar, Professor Keith and Cavanagh, Professor Jonathan and Velupillai, Dr Yoganathan and Packard, Professor Chris and Sattar, Professor Naveed
Authors: Packard, C., Cavanagh, J., McLean, J.S., McConnachie, A., Messow, C.-M., Batty, G.D., Burns, H., Deans, K.A., Sattar, N., Shiels, P.G., Velupillai, Y.N., Tannahill, C., and Millar, K.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
Journal Name:Journal of Public Health
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:1741-3842
ISSN (Online):1741-3850
Published Online:02 May 2012

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