Five-Factor Model Personality Traits as Predictors of Incident Coronary Heart Disease in the Community: A 10.5-Year Cohort Study Based on the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Follow-Up Study

Hochang Benjamin Lee, Emanuela Offidani, Roy C. Ziegelstein, Oscar Joseph Bienvenu, Jack Samuels, William W. Eaton, Gerald Nestadt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Certain personality and behavioral traits (e.g., type A and type D) have been reported to be associated with development and progression of coronary heart disease (CHD), but few have examined the relationship using a comprehensive assessment of personality along with a structured assessment of psychiatric disorders. Methods: Based on participants (age: 47.3 ± 12.8; female: 62.6%) of the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area follow-up study, we examined the relationship between the 5 major domains of personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and incident CHD between Wave III (1993-1996) and Wave IV(2004-2005). Results: Incident CHD developed in 65 participants during the follow-up. Those with incident CHD had lower on openness (44.06 ± 9.29 vs 47.18 ± 8.80; p = 0.007) and extraversion (45.98 ± 9.25 vs 49.12 ± 8.92; p = 0.007) scores than those without. Logistic regression models revealed an inverse association (OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.54-0.98) between openness factor z-scores and incident CHD after adjusting for putative confounding factors, including DSM III-R Major Depressive Disorder. Conclusion: High openness appears to be an independent protective factor for incident CHD in the community. Future studies should examine behavioral and pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying this association.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)352-361
Number of pages10
JournalPsychosomatics
Volume55
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Five-Factor Model Personality Traits as Predictors of Incident Coronary Heart Disease in the Community: A 10.5-Year Cohort Study Based on the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Follow-Up Study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this