The predictor status of personality variables: etiological significance and their role in the course of disease

Abstract

In this paper the role of personality in the onset and course of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancer is described. When the role of personality as an etiologic factor in the onset of disease is considered, the overall conclusion is that the evidence supporting this notion is generally weak. Only for hostility a consistent but weak association with CHD is found across studies. Even then, the results are not equivocal and several limitations of the conducted studies complicate firm statements. Specifically with respect to cancer, the prospective studies reviewed do not lend support for a causal role of personality in the onset of cancer. Related to the course of both CHD and cancer, it is more evident that personality, or variables closely related to personality, shows a relation to either survival or symptoms. It is interesting to see that there is some evidence supporting the influence of the non-expression of emotions under the condition of distress. In fact a taxonomy proposed by Denollet et al. (1996) resembles the Type C cancer personality trait. Both traits are linked to higher scores on neuroticism and introversion. In the discussion some possible pathways linking personality and disease are described. These models illustrate the need to carry out prospective studies focused on a broad range of personality variables and disease relevant behaviour and biological markers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.