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Dependency, Detachment, and Health-Related Behavior in Adult Primary Care Patients
Robert F Bornstein1, John H Porcerelli2,3, John R Jones4
1Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA.
Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
|February 13, 2023
Summary
Personality styles impact health. Destructive overdependence and detachment correlate with higher healthcare use, while healthy dependency is linked to better health behaviors and fewer emergency visits.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Personality styles influence health behaviors and healthcare utilization.
- Understanding these links is crucial for patient care in primary settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between three personality styles (destructive overdependence, dysfunctional detachment, healthy dependency) and health outcomes.
- To investigate associations with health behaviors and healthcare service use.
Main Methods:
- Assessed personality styles using the Relationship Profile Test in 100 primary care patients.
- Correlated personality scores with health indices including emergency department contacts, hospitalizations, health behaviors, and physician-rated relationship quality.
Main Results:
- Destructive overdependence and dysfunctional detachment scores positively correlated with emergency department (ED) visits.
- Healthy dependency scores inversely related to ED visits and hospitalizations.
- Healthy dependency associated with positive health behaviors; destructive overdependence with negative behaviors.
- Healthy dependency linked to better doctor-patient relationships.
Conclusions:
- Personality styles significantly correlate with health status and healthcare utilization patterns.
- Findings highlight the importance of assessing personality in primary care to understand patient health behaviors and service use.
- Interventions targeting personality-related factors may improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
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