Personality Traits Strongly Linked to Mental Health Risks

 Is your competent? doctor looking at these to ensure you don't get depressed or have anxiety post stroke?

Personality Traits Strongly Linked to Mental Health Risks

Summary: A major study of over 16,000 participants found that personality traits explain about 25% of the overall risk for mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and phobias. Traits such as higher neuroticism, higher agreeableness, and lower conscientiousness were particularly associated with general mental health risk.

The researchers emphasized that while personality is a strong predictor, it is only one factor among many, including genetics and life experiences. The findings suggest that understanding personality could help create better-targeted mental health interventions.

Key Facts:

• Personality Predicts Risk: About 25% of mental health risk is tied to personality traits.
• Neuroticism Linked to Risk: Higher neuroticism, lower conscientiousness, and higher agreeableness predicted general mental health issues.
• Multiple Factors Matter: Personality is a strong factor but does not solely determine mental health outcomes.

Source: University of Edinburgh

Common mental health conditions are more closely related to people’s personalities than previously thought, a study suggests.

Personality traits explain about a quarter of the overall risk of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and phobias, the study found.

Researchers say the findings show personality is one of the most reliable predictors for the onset and persistence of mental health problems.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Tartu in Estonia analysed data from more than 16,000 members of the Estonian Biobank – a collection of health data from volunteers across the country.

They surveyed people’s personality according to the five traits psychologists define as the main dimensions of human personality: extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, openness to experience and agreeableness.

They also looked at more nuanced personality traits – such as tendencies to feel embarrassed, needing reassurance and needing help from others – as predictors of general mental health problems. 

The researchers also looked at both the general risk of experiencing different types of mental health problems and the risk of some specific problems that only some people experience, such as fear, sleeplessness, fatigue, inattention, and hyperactivity.

Each participant described their personality traits and mental health, and each participant was also rated by someone else who knew them well.

They found that personality traits were more strongly related to mental health problems than suggested by previous studies.

About 25 per cent of the differences in people’s risk of mental health problems could be traced to their personality traits.

On top of the general risk, personality traits explained another quarter of the risk for specific mental health problems.

People with a higher general mental health risk tended to have higher neuroticism – a tendency to feel negative emotions.(Not me)

They also tended to have higher agreeableness – a positive orientation towards other people – and lower conscientiousness – a tendency to be organised and hardworking.  (That's me)

However, specific mental health problems varied in their associations with personality traits.  

Some areas of mental health, such as sleep problems, were not particularly strongly correlated with any aspect of personality. 

Senior Researcher, Professor René Mõttus, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, said: “By combining data from two sources, we were able to overcome common problems in personality assessments, such as response bias and other types of measurement error. This allowed us to estimate the associations much more accurately.”  

The researchers stress that people’s personalities do not determine their mental health problems.

Lead author, Helo Liis Soodla, of the University of Tartu, said: “Many people whose traits might statistically predict poor mental health report great well-being. Conversely, many people who experience mental health problems at some point in their lives do not appear to be at risk based on their personality traits.

“In any given individual, a number of things can affect mental health, from genetic risk variants to stressful childhood events. Each factor on its own accounts for only a tiny proportion of the risk of poor mental health. And much is simply down to luck.”

The researchers say the more we know about the potential of traits to increase mental health risk, the more likely we are to be able to design successful interventions to reduce the risks.

Funding:

The work was funded by the Estonian Research Council.

About this mental health and personality research news

Author: Joanne Morrison
Source: University of Edinburgh
Contact: Joanne Morrison – University of Edinburgh
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access.
“Assessing the Overlap of Personality Traits and Internalizing Psychopathology Using Multi-Informant Data: Two Sides of the Same Coin?” by René Mõttus et al. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science

This Personality Trait Could Triple Your Dementia Risk - cynicism

 This one might be hard for your doctor to change.

Is your doctor going to work on your cynicism while also preventing your 33% dementia chance post-stroke from an Australian study 
Is your doctor doing anything at all to prevent dementia?

This Personality Trait Could Triple Your Dementia Risk

The trait has already been linked with worse physical health, but what is it doing to the brain?

People with high levels of cynicism are more likely to develop dementia.

It’s already been found that those who believe others are mainly motivated by selfish concerns — the definition of cynical distrust — have worse physical health; for example, cynicism has been linked to heart disease.

Now you can add dementia to the list.

In the study, conducted in Finland, 1,449 people were given tests of their cynicism that included questions like:

• “I think most people would lie to get ahead.”
• “It is safer to trust nobody.”
• “Most people will use somewhat unfair reasons to gain profit or an advantage rather than lose it.”

The more people endorsed these statements, the stronger their cynical distrust was deemed to be.

They were also given tests of dementia and other factors that might affect their risk of developing dementia later on, like smoking and high cholesterol levels.

Eight years later, people were tested again to see if they had developed any symptoms of dementia.

The study was published in the journal Neurology (Neuvonen et al., 2014).

Study finds certain personality traits can predict dementia

 Did your competent? doctor explain this to you so you can work on preventing dementia post stroke? NO? So you don't have a functioning stroke doctor, do you?

I'm extremely good at the positive ones.

Your chances of getting dementia. YOUR DOCTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREVENTING THIS!

1. A documented 33% dementia chance post-stroke from an Australian study?   May 2012.

2. Then this study came out and seems to have a range from 17-66%. December 2013.`    

3. A 20% chance in this research.   July 2013.

4. Dementia Risk Doubled in Patients Following Stroke September 2018

The latest here:

Study finds certain personality traits can predict dementia

A new study titled “Can Personality Traits Predict Dementia?” looks at various personality traits and their correlation with whether or not the person with them is more or less likely to develop dementia. The study, conducted by researchers from Northwestern University and the University of California, Davis, involved analyzing data from 44,531 participants who were part of eight longitudinal studies conducted across three continents and five countries. The researchers focused on personality traits such as conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, positive affect, and negative affect. The data was combined and harmonized to examine whether personality traits and subjective reports of well-being influenced the neuropsychological and neuropathological characteristics of dementia. (1)

 

Neuroticism, low conscientiousness, and negative affect were linked to an increased risk of dementia, while conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive affect were associated with a lower risk. Interestingly, no consistent associations were found between personality traits and dementia-related brain changes. It is important to note that the samples used in the study were predominantly from the United States, which presents a limitation in terms of generalizability across diverse populations.

 

Before continuing to talk about the study, let's quickly define what the personality traits mentioned in the study actually mean:©Provided by The Hearty Soul

• Conscientiousness: A trait associated with the tendency to be responsible, organized, hard-working, goal-directed, and to adhere to norms and rules. These people tend to exhibit self-control, industriousness, responsibility, and reliability. (2)
• Extraversion: A trait associated with a general tendency to experience positive emotions, as well as traits such as sociability, assertiveness, high activity level, positive emotions, and impulsivity. (3)
• Neuroticism: the trait disposition to experience negative affects, including anger, anxiety, self‐consciousness, irritability, emotional instability, and depression. Persons with elevated levels of neuroticism respond poorly to environmental stress, interpret ordinary situations as threatening, and can experience minor frustrations as hopelessly overwhelming. (4)
• Positive Affect: PA is characterized by joy and high levels of energy, concentration, enthusiasm, and alertness. (5)
• Negative Affect: NA is characterized by distress, anger, contempt, and nervousness or fear.

The results of this study provide valuable insights into the potential predictive power of personality traits in relation to dementia. Identifying these risk factors earlier could assist in the development of targeted interventions and personalized strategies to mitigate the risk of developing dementia. The findings also highlight the need for further research to explore these associations using biomarkers of dementia and in more diverse and inclusive populations.

 

If you possess certain personality traits, it is important to be aware of their potential implications in relation to dementia. Individuals who exhibit neuroticism, low conscientiousness, or negative affect may be at an increased risk of developing dementia. On the other hand, those high in conscientiousness, extraversion, or positive affect may have a reduced risk. Understanding these associations can act as a trigger for individuals to take proactive steps in monitoring their cognitive health and adopting lifestyle choices that may help reduce the risk of dementia.

 

Dementia is a broad term used to describe a range of symptoms that result from progressive brain damage. It affects memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for around 60-70% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia is a significant public health issue, not only for individuals and families affected but also for healthcare systems and society as a whole. (6)  

 

2 Positive Personality Traits That Support Good Mental Health

The readable version from PsyBlog here:

2 Positive Personality Traits That Support Good Mental Health

The research behind it here:

Relation between cognitive and behavioral strategies and future change in common mental health problems across 18 years.

My long term goal is to have fun and I'm damn optimistic I will do that!

Can personality traits predict dementia?

Conscientiousness - I was extremely this way growing up and through most of my life. I have now decided I will no longer be the responsible person in the group.

For almost all my life, until I moved alone to Michigan, I considered myself introverted. But in order to meet people here I jumped at any invitation.  

Positive affectivity refers to positive emotions and expression, including cheerfulness, pride, enthusiasm, energy, and joy. This describes me pretty well. Life is great.

Ask your competent? doctor if these traits are enough to prevent your risk of dementia post stroke.

Your risk of dementia, has your doctor told you of this?

1. A documented 33% dementia chance post-stroke from an Australian study?   May 2012.

2. Then this study came out and seems to have a range from 17-66%. December 2013.`    

3. A 20% chance in this research.   July 2013.

4. Dementia Risk Doubled in Patients Following Stroke September 2018

The latest here:

 

Can personality traits predict dementia?

An NIA-funded study supports a predictive link between personality traits and dementia. The study found that conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive affect were associated with a lower risk for dementia while neuroticism and negative affect were associated with an increased risk. However, no associations were found between personality traits and dementia-related brain changes. The results, published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, may help researchers understand whether changes in personality can predict one’s risk for dementia.

For this study, researchers from Northwestern University and the University of California, Davis analyzed data from 44,531 participants who were part of eight separate longitudinal studies conducted in three continents and five countries. The team harmonized the data and tested whether personality traits and subjective reports of well-being predicted neuropsychological and neuropathological characteristics of dementia.

The results support the idea that certain personality traits may be risk factors for dementia. Neuroticism, low conscientiousness, and negative affect were associated with dementia diagnoses across samples, measures, and time. Other personality traits may be more protective; for example, conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive affect were associated with a lower risk for dementia.

Among the combined participant data, approximately 50% of all the cases included autopsies. A limited number of samples (1,703) from the combined data were from people who developed dementia. This enabled researchers to compare autopsy results with personality traits. They found no consistent associations. One limitation of the study is that all the neuropathology samples were from the United States and none of the studies were representative with respect to race.

The study authors note that more research is needed to prospectively explore such associations using biomarkers of dementia and among more diverse and inclusive populations and to establish whether aspects of personality or subjective well-being are causally linked to dementia outcomes.

This research was supported by NIA grants P01AG043362, R01AG018436, R01AG067622, R01AG017917, P30AG010161, P30AG72975, R01AG15819, R01AG072559, and P01AG03949.

These activities relate to NIH’s AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestones 2.J, Disease Mechanisms: Social and psychosocial factors, and 11.B, Enabling Tech: Outcome measures harmonization.

Reference: Beck ED, et al. Personality predictors of dementia diagnosis and neuropathological burden: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2024;20(3):1497-1514. doi: 10.1002/alz.13523.

The personality traits most associated with being diagnosed with dementia

 I'm certainly not neurotic and I'm eternally happy.

The personality traits most associated with being diagnosed with dementia

There are a number of things you can do to avoid being diagnosed with dementia later in life.

There are food items you can eat, things you can drink, and just small improvements you can make to your health that can make a big difference.

But there are also some personality traits that a recent study showed are linked to dementia.

• First signs of dementia that can occur before memory loss
• Four signs to look out for in your walk that could show signs of dementia

A survey examined 44,531 people age 49 to 81. Of the group, 1,703 people developed dementia. Participants took part in personality assessments and underwent brain examinations after they died.

According to the Huffington Post, people had high levels of neuroticism and those with negative affect "had a higher risk of developing dementia over the long term."

Little-known dementia symptom is first spotted in the eyes, says health expert

Eating snack could reduce the risk of dementia, studies say

Neuroticism is defined as a personality trait associated with emotional instability, irritability, anxiety, self-doubt, depression, and other negative feelings.

By the same token, those who had a more positive outlook on life and showed signs of enthusiasm towards every day tasks were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia.

While there were undeniably some interesting findings in the report, it's also important to note that 'no clear link' was not found between personality and evidence of underlying disease.

The Personality Trait Linked To Good Mental Health

For almost all my life, until I moved alone to Michigan, I considered myself introverted. But in order to meet people here I jumped at any invitation.  

Life is great and so is my mental health, neither had anything to do with my treatment from my stroke medical 'professionals'.

The Personality Trait Linked To Good Mental Health

Personality, though, changes how people interpret and deal with the things that happen to them.

People who are extraverted are less likely to suffer mental health problems, personality research finds.

Extraverts are typically outgoing, talkative and energetic and they tend to have more positive emotions.

However, people who are aggressive and neurotic— a tendency to worry and be emotionally unstable — are at higher risk of mental health problems.

Neuroticism is characterised by negative thinking in a range of areas.

Neurotic people are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as drink and drug problems.

Neuroticism, like other aspects of personality, is highly heritable — in other words, it is in a person’s genes.

However, neuroticism can be reduced by psychotherapy.

What Your Toilet Paper Reveals About Your Personality

It has to be over because that is the only way you can do the sacred point that motels/hotels use. As written about in 'Motel of the mysteries', Book by David Macaulay.
http://www.spring.org.uk/2017/05/what-your-toilet-paper-reveals-about-your-personality.php?omhide=true 
Do you hang your toilet roll with the end of the paper hanging ‘over’ or with the end hanging ‘under’?
According to a survey by Dr Gilda Carle, ‘over’ people are more assertive.
Assertive people are more likely to be in leadership roles and to have a take-charge attitude, says Dr Carle.
Those hanging the roll ‘under’ are more likely to be submissive.
Submissive people tend to be more agreeable, flexible and empathetic, says Dr Carle.
To create the toilet paper personality test, Dr Carle surveyed around 2,000 people of all ages, asking them whether they rolled the paper over or under.
Some people, Dr Carle has found, actually switched the toilet roll in other people’s houses (around one in five).
Naturally it was those ‘over’ people imposing their dominant personality on submissive ‘unders’.

The rich roll over

Rolling under might also be linked to lower earnings, another survey has found.
73% of those earning under $20,000 rolled under, while 60% of those earning over $50,000 roll over.
(Who knew there were so many surveys on toilet roll alignment?)

→ Try one of PsyBlog’s ebooks, all written by Dr Jeremy Dean:

• Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do (NEW)
• The Anxiety Plan: 42 Strategies For Worry, Phobias, OCD and Panic
• Spark: 17 Steps That Will Boost Your Motivation For Anything

Note: this survey was not published in a reputable peer-reviewed journal!

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Scientists have discovered 5 personality traits linked with a long life

I'm going to live into my 90s, they are many many stories to tell to entertain others of my foibles.
http://www.businessinsider.com/personality-traits-linked-long-life-longevity-2017-5/#conscientiousness-1

Conscientiousness - I was extremely this way growing up and through most of my life. I have now decided I will no longer be the responsible person in the group.

 Openness

Emotional stability - I tend not to let things bother me, this stroke is a minor irritant.

Friendliness - I made a lot of friends after moving here to Michigan, I will never worry about making friends in all the new places I plan to live at when I retire.

The ability to express feelings - You have read my blog, I let it all hang out.

 

 

 

The only major personality trait that consistently leads to success is conscientiousness.

Well, it didn't help in keeping my old job and didn't prevent my stroke. 

The only major personality trait that consistently leads to success is conscientiousness. 

"It's emerging as one of the primary dimensions of successful functioning across the lifespan," Paul Tough writes in "How Children Succeed." "It really goes cradle to grave in terms of how people do." 

Tough says that people who test high in conscientiousness get better grades in school and college, commit fewer crimes, and stay married longer.

They live longer, too, he says. And not just because they smoke and drink less. They have fewer strokes, lower blood pressure, and a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease.

"But what if I fail at stroke rehab?"

Blatently reused from Seth Godin;

"But what if I fail?" 

So what?, your doctor should have told you that failure will be part and parcel of your recovery. 

There are these 8 Japanese Proverbs about Success and Failure
Failure is the basis of success. (Meaning: Failure teaches us what actions should we change in order to achieve success.)
☯ A three days monk. (Meaning: A quitter. One who cannot stick at nothing. One who gives up as soon as difficulty arises.)
☯ The rain comes and it hardens the earth. (Meaning: After the adversity, we become stronger.)
Read Peter Levines' book - Stronger After Stroke
☯ A thorough examination of the “bad tools”. (Meaning: A bad workman quarrels with his tools (blames his tools). A loser always makes some silly excuse.) 
My therapist isn't giving me the proper exercises, my clinic doesn't have this technology. Nobody is telling me the way to recover. Whine, whine, whine.
☯ Practice rather than theory.
In our case we don't have a theory so the only thing we can do is practice.
☯ Loser is winner. (Avoiding damaging battles. I’d rather be happy than “right”.)
☯ Necessity is the mother of invention.
☯ Even Buddhist teachings scripts have some calligraphy brush slips. (Meaning: Even the greatest expert or master sometimes fails. Even Homer sometimes nods. Anyone can make a mistake. Nobody’s perfect. Everyone makes mistakes.) 
☯ Black paper is small but spicy. Small actions may matter. (Meaning: One can make a strong impact in spite of his/her particular difficulties, like small body etc. A little body often harbors a great soul/mind. Small head but great wit. Sometimes a little action can change things a lot.)

And a couple Chinese ones 
http://thinkexist.com/quotation/failure_is_not_falling_down_but_refusing_to_get/152465.html 

“Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.”

“To talk much and arrive nowhere is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish”

“If you get up one more time than you fall you will make it through.”

“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself”