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A taxometric analysis of type-D personality
Eamonn Ferguson1, Lynn Williams, Rory C O'Connor
1Risk Analysis, Social Processes and Health (RASPH) group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. eamonn.ferguson@nottingham.ac.uk
Psychosomatic Medicine
|October 17, 2009
Summary
Type D personality is better understood as a spectrum rather than distinct categories. This research suggests a dimensional approach for Type D personality, impacting clinical practice and theory development.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Type D personality is often treated as a categorical variable.
- Its classification as a risk factor for coronary heart disease prognosis is established.
- Evidence supporting its categorical nature is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Type D personality is taxonic (categorical) or dimensional.
- To apply taxometric procedures to assess personality structure.
- To clarify the construct validity of Type D personality.
Main Methods:
- 1012 healthy adults from the UK and Ireland participated.
- The standard DS14 scale was used to measure Type D personality.
- Taxometric procedures, MAMBAC and MAXCOV, were employed.
Main Results:
- Analysis indicated Type D personality is better represented as dimensional.
- Graphical comparisons and fit indices supported a dimensional model.
- Results challenge the categorical assumption of Type D.
Conclusions:
- Type D personality is best conceptualized as a dimensional construct.
- Findings have implications for Type D theory and clinical applications.
- Taxometrics may be valuable for investigating other psychosomatic syndromes.
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