The link between personality traits and health behaviour. Can we find it in IHD patients?

Abstract

Background: Individual persons’ peculiarities encourage to use innovative treatment programs oriented to change unhealthy behaviour. Knowledge about patients’ personality and its effect on rehabilitation outcomes would help optimize treatment techniques. The aim of this work is to find links between ischemic heart disease (IHD) patient’s personality traits and health behaviour. Methods: Eighty IHD patients from rehabilitation hospital participated in our study. Validation of patients’ suitability for investigation was done looking at these criteria: disease, new arrivals, agreeableness. “Readiness to change questionnaire†was used to evaluate health behaviour and NEO-FFI – personality traits. Findings: Statistically significant positive Spearman’s correlations were found between neuroticism and physical activity (r=0.377), agreeableness and diet (r=0.320). Kruskal-Wallis criteria showed statistically significant difference in physical activity change stages (p=0.022) of neuroticism. Mann-Whitney revealed that these differences are between precontemplation and action (p=0.025), contemplation and action (p=0.014). Discussion: Our study confirmed links between personality traits and health behaviour in IHD patients. These findings prove that patients character features are important factor for rehabilitation outcome.