Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology
This paper sets out the case that personality traits are central to health psychology. To achieve this, three aims need to be addressed. First, it is necessary to show that personality influences a broad range of health outcomes and mechanisms. Second, the simple descriptive account of Aim 1 is not...
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| Format: | Article |
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Taylor & Francis
2013
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2880/ |
| _version_ | 1848790898061606912 |
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| author | Ferguson, Eamonn |
| author_facet | Ferguson, Eamonn |
| author_sort | Ferguson, Eamonn |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This paper sets out the case that personality traits are central to health psychology. To achieve this, three aims need to be addressed. First, it is necessary to show that personality influences a broad range of health outcomes and mechanisms. Second, the simple descriptive account of Aim 1 is not sufficient, and a theoretical specification needs to be developed to explain the personality-health link and allow for future hypothesis generation. Third, once Aims 1 and 2 are met, it is necessary to demonstrate the clinical utility of personality. In this review I make the case that all three Aims are met. I develop a theoretical framework to understand the links between personality and health drawing on current theorising in the biology, evolution, and neuroscience of personality. I identify traits (i.e., alexithymia, Type D, hypochondriasis, and empathy) that are of particular concern to health psychology and set these within evolutionary cost-benefit analysis. The literature is reviewed within a three-level hierarchical model (individual, group, and organisational) and it is argued that health psychology needs to move from its traditional focus on the individual level to engage group and organisational levels. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:19:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-2880 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:19:55Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-28802020-05-04T20:19:16Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2880/ Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology Ferguson, Eamonn This paper sets out the case that personality traits are central to health psychology. To achieve this, three aims need to be addressed. First, it is necessary to show that personality influences a broad range of health outcomes and mechanisms. Second, the simple descriptive account of Aim 1 is not sufficient, and a theoretical specification needs to be developed to explain the personality-health link and allow for future hypothesis generation. Third, once Aims 1 and 2 are met, it is necessary to demonstrate the clinical utility of personality. In this review I make the case that all three Aims are met. I develop a theoretical framework to understand the links between personality and health drawing on current theorising in the biology, evolution, and neuroscience of personality. I identify traits (i.e., alexithymia, Type D, hypochondriasis, and empathy) that are of particular concern to health psychology and set these within evolutionary cost-benefit analysis. The literature is reviewed within a three-level hierarchical model (individual, group, and organisational) and it is argued that health psychology needs to move from its traditional focus on the individual level to engage group and organisational levels. Taylor & Francis 2013-05 Article PeerReviewed Ferguson, Eamonn (2013) Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology. Health Psychology Review, 7 (Supple). S32-S70. ISSN 1743-7199 personality evolution diagnosis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678852/ doi:10.1080/17437199.2010.547985 doi:10.1080/17437199.2010.547985 |
| spellingShingle | personality evolution diagnosis Ferguson, Eamonn Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology |
| title | Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology |
| title_full | Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology |
| title_fullStr | Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology |
| title_short | Personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology |
| title_sort | personality is of central concern to understand health: towards a theoretical model for health psychology |
| topic | personality evolution diagnosis |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2880/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2880/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2880/ |