Personality and metabolic syndrome
Angelina R Sutin1, Paul T Costa, Manuela Uda
1Laboratory of Personality and Cognition, National Institute on Aging, NIH, DHHS, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. sutina@mail.nih.gov
Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|June 23, 2010
Summary
Certain personality traits, like high conscientiousness and agreeableness, may protect against metabolic syndrome. Lower conscientiousness and agreeableness increase risk, suggesting a psychological component to this condition.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Metabolic syndrome prevalence is rising with obesity, posing significant health and financial burdens.
- Identifying at-risk individuals and intervention points is crucial.
- Psychological traits, alongside physiological and social factors, may influence metabolic syndrome development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between personality traits and metabolic syndrome in a large community sample.
- To determine if specific personality dimensions predict metabolic syndrome risk.
Main Methods:
- A large community sample (N=5,662) from Sardinia, Italy, participated.
- Participants completed the NEO-PI-R personality questionnaire.
- Metabolic syndrome components (waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting glucose) were assessed.
Main Results:
- In adults over 45 (n=2,419), Neuroticism and low Agreeableness were linked to metabolic syndrome.
- High Conscientiousness showed a protective effect, reducing metabolic syndrome likelihood by approximately 40% (OR=0.61).
- Low Agreeableness increased metabolic syndrome likelihood by 50% (OR=1.53); impulsivity and hostility facets were strongly associated.
Conclusions:
- Psychological resources, specifically certain personality traits, are associated with metabolic syndrome vulnerability.
- Findings suggest a psychological dimension to metabolic syndrome risk, complementing established factors.
- Personality traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness may serve as protective or risk factors.
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