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Self-selection for personality variables among healthy volunteers
M S Pieters1, A Jennekens-Schinkel, H C Schoemaker
1Centre for Human Drug Research, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Healthy student volunteers exhibit distinct personality traits, including higher extroversion and sensation-seeking, along with lower anxiety levels compared to general and student norms. These findings suggest a need for personality screening in volunteer selection for clinical research.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Clinical pharmacological research relies on healthy volunteers.
- Volunteer characteristics may influence study outcomes.
- Understanding volunteer personality is crucial for data interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the personality profiles of healthy student volunteers.
- To compare volunteer personality traits against general and student norms.
- To assess the implications of volunteer selection on research findings.
Main Methods:
- 103 healthy student volunteers completed the Dutch Personality Inventory (DPI), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-DY), and Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS).
- Statistical comparisons were made against general population norms and a student norm group.
- Analysis focused on personality traits, anxiety levels, and sensation-seeking tendencies.
Main Results:
- Volunteers demonstrated significantly higher extroversion, flexibility, tolerance, self-confidence, initiative, satisfaction, and optimism compared to the general norm.
- Compared to student norms, volunteers exhibited lower state and trait anxiety.
- Volunteers showed a higher general sensation-seeking tendency, particularly in thrill-and-adventure-seeking and disinhibition.
Conclusions:
- Healthy student volunteers represent a selected sample with unique personality traits.
- These personality differences may impact pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameter interpretations.
- Implementing personality screening in volunteer selection is recommended for enhanced research validity.