On the relationship between olfactory sensitivity and personality in HIV-seropositive and healthy men

Abstract

The aim of this study was to further elucidate the relationship between the olfactory system and psychosocial functioning. Previous studies have shown that olfactory sensitivity is related to traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, and emotionality. In this study, the model of agency and communion as well as additional measures of social activity were used. The possible influence of HIV infection, believed to affect both chemosensory functions and social behaviors, was examined. 103 male participants were analyzed, of whom 45 were infected with HIV. Olfactory sensitivity was significantly related to the level of communion (p = .01), trait defined as interpersonal warmth, devotion to others, and morality. The effect was independent of the presence of HIV. Eagerness to engage in social activities, a construct indicating how actively one takes part in social life, was positively associated with olfactory sensitivity only in HIV+ individuals (p = .003). This result may imply that active participation in social life can buffer olfactory impairments in HIV patients.