Personality traits and psychosocial adjustment in patients with limb amputation

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between psychosocial adjustment and personality traits since research regarding psychosocial adjustment and variables that influence adjustment in patients with limb amputation is relatively scarce. Methods: There were 63 (81% male) participants in this study. The sample consisted of 51 men and 12 women between the ages of 27 and 86 (M = 56.63, SD = 13.35). The Next Big Five Inventory (BFI 2; Soto & John, 2017) was used to assess personality traits and The Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales – Revised (TAPES-R; Gallagher & MacLachlan, 2000) was used to measure psychosocial adjustment (general adjustment, social adjustment and adjustment to limitation). Results: Extraversion was positively and negative emotionality negatively associated with general adjustment. No significant associations were found between social adjustment and personality traits. Extraversion, agreeableness and open-mindedness correlated positively with adjustment to limitation. Similar pattern of associations was found between personality facets and general adjustment and adjustment to limitation. The strongest associations were found with negative emotionality facet depression. Conclusions: Results indicate that personality traits are associated with psychosocial adjustment in patients with limb amputation. Since this finding can be useful for adaptation to amputation, further research in larger samples is needed.