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Related Experiment Videos

Personality and resistance to illness.

S C Kobasa

    American Journal of Community Psychology
    |August 1, 1979
    PubMed
    Summary

    Personality traits can buffer the negative health impacts of stress. Individuals with high stress and low illness reported greater control, commitment, and viewing change as a challenge compared to those with high stress and high illness.

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    Journal of behavioral medicine·1982

    Area of Science:

    • Psychology
    • Health Psychology
    • Occupational Health

    Background:

    • Stressful life events are linked to increased illness.
    • Individual differences, such as personality, may influence this relationship.
    • Understanding resilience factors is crucial for health management.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of personality in mitigating the health effects of stress.
    • To identify specific personality characteristics associated with resilience under high stress.

    Main Methods:

    • Compared two groups of executives experiencing high stress over three years.
    • Measured stress using the Holmes and Rahe Schedule of Recent Life Events.
    • Assessed illness incidence using the Wyler, Masuda, and Holmes Seriousness of Illness Survey.
    • Employed discriminant function analysis to differentiate groups.

    Main Results:

    • Executives with high stress and low illness (n=86) differed significantly from those with high stress and high illness (n=75).
    • The resilient group exhibited higher levels of control, commitment, and viewing change as a challenge.
    • These personality factors predicted lower illness rates despite comparable high stress levels.

    Conclusions:

    • Specific personality characteristics act as a buffer against stress-induced illness.
    • Fostering a sense of control, commitment, and a challenge-oriented view of change may enhance resilience.
    • These findings have implications for workplace wellness programs and stress management interventions.

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