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Personality types in individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Alexia Rouland1, Jean-Christophe Chauvet-Gelinier2, Anne-Laure Sberna3
1A Rouland, Endocrinology, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France.
Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) exhibit higher Type A personality scores than those with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This suggests a potential link between Type A personality and autoimmune diseases, possibly mediated by stress.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Type A personality, characterized by competitiveness and impatience, is linked to stress sensitivity.
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease potentially influenced by stress, unlike type 2 diabetes (T2D).
- Autoimmune thyroid diseases share potential stress-related pathways with T1D.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare Type A personality scores in patients with T1D and T2D.
- To investigate Type A personality in autoimmune thyroid disease patients.
- To explore the relationship between autoimmune conditions and Type A personality.
Main Methods:
- Assessed Type A personality using the Bortner questionnaire.
- Included 188 patients with T1D, 430 with T2D, and 85 with autoimmune thyroid disease.
- Compared Type A scores across the patient groups.
Main Results:
- T1D patients had significantly higher Type A Bortner scores than T2D patients (188 ± 34 vs 177 ± 36, P < 0.0001).
- Type A scores in T1D patients were similar to those in autoimmune thyroid disease patients (188 ± 34 vs 189 ± 33, P = 0.860).
Conclusions:
- Elevated Type A personality scores are observed in T1D, potentially linked to its autoimmune nature.
- Similar Type A scores in T1D and autoimmune thyroid disease suggest a connection via psychobiological pathways.
- Differences in Type A personality may impact self-care and prognosis in diabetes management.
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