Personality and voice disorders: a superfactor trait analysis

To determine whether personality factors play causal, concomitant, or consequential roles in common voice disorders, a vocally normal control group and four groups with voice disorders-functional dysphonia (FD), vocal nodules (VN), spasmodic dysphonia (SD), and unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP)-were compared on measures of personality and psychological adjustment. Superfactor group comparisons revealed that the majority of FD and VN subjects were classified as introverts and extraverts, respectively. Comparisons involving the SD, UVFP, and control subjects did not identify consistent personality differences. The disability hypothesis, which suggests that personality features and emotional maladjustment are solely a negative consequence of vocal disability, was not supported. Personality variables and their behavioral consequences may therefore contribute to FD and VN. Results are presented within the context of a dispositional theory offered by Roy and Bless (2000a).