Personality type D, stress reactivity and autonomic balance in healthy young people: gender and ethnic characteristics

Abstract

Objective. To assess the association of personality type D with stress reactivity and autonomic balance among medical students, depending on gender and nationality. Design and methods. The study included 188 healthy students aged 18 to 23 years (median 18,0 ± 1,0 years), Russian speakers and residents of India. To determine the type of personality D used questionnaire DS-14. All examined were divided into two groups: with the presence of personality type D (n = 67) and without personality type D (n = 121). Additionally, groups of male students with type D (n = 24) and without type D (n = 63) and female students with type D (n = 43) and without type D (n = 58) were identified. We evaluated the psychophysical stress test “Mathematical Account” and indicators of variational pulsometry at rest. Results. When examining medical students, personality type D was detected in 27,5 % girls and 42,6 % boys (p = 0,03). When analyzing ethnic differences among Indian students, type D was detected in 42,6 % cases, among Russian-speaking students in 32,8 % (p = 0,21). Among the examined, there was no effect of type D on the test with an oral count, in the whole cohort, as well as in boys and girls. Logistic regression analysis in young men showed a pronounced relationship between Indian nationality and the presence of personality type D (p < 0,001). Conclusions. The influence of multidirectional factors (gender, nationality) can offset the influence of personality type D on the studied psychophysiological mechanisms and determine the heterogeneity of the influence of personality type D on the course of the disease in the general cohort.