Psychology 415 Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, 9 -9 -09, 1

Personality & health: Methodology Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § “Nomological net” – based research Antecedents • • Origins Context Moderators(? ) Developmental trajectory • Neurological basis Construct • Core assumptions • Stability • Generality • Validity • Discriminant • Convergent • Correspondence to known neuroψ process • Mediators • “Boundary conditions” • Assessment Personality, 9 -9 -09, 2 Consequences • Direct v. indirect • “Main effects” • Stress – vulnerability • Biomedical v. behavioral • 2 nd mediators • Social-cognitive processes • Ancillary behaviors ØSupport Øconflict

Methods: outcomes & processes § de Wit (2009): Illustration of integrated processes, Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior outcomes & operational definitions (By population: ADHD for “waiting turn”, alcoholics for “resisting drink”) Personality, 9 -9 -09, 3

Methodology, 2 Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Trait correlations v. mediating research: § “What” Type A / hostility CHD risk in non-ill samples Optimism speed of recovery from breast cancer § “How” Type A alcohol & drugs / smoking + cardio vascular reactivity / HPA activation inflammation Optimism Instrumental coping, lower basal arousal § Contextual variables: moderating research § Gender effects (x cultural expectancies) § Race / ethnicity § Other minority status’: Sexual orientation and personality development, stress responses Personality, 9 -9 -09, 4 SES.

§ Methods, 3 Core potential circularity in personality explanations: § Behavioral consistency is basis for trait ascription, and then Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior serves as explanation of that same consistency: § how do you know someone is “warm”? § Core limitation in personality research: § Diverse measures of personality traits Self-report measures of personaltiy Self-report measures of health bias in health reports may reflect of personality constructs! (stoicism, neuroticism…) § Lack of construct validity studies § Cross sectional research designs § “Shotgun” / non-hypothesis based approaches to personality prediction § E. g. , Taylor paper & iteration through 5 factor model Personality, 9 -9 -09, 5

Basic conceptual frameworks Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality Trait Conception Behavioral Consistency Broad traits • “Type A” / “hardiness” Big 5… Social / cognitive processes Outcomes • Biomedical processes • Attitudes & expectancies • Health behaviors • Self-schema • Health status Social – Cognitive Perspective Social / cognitive processes • Outcome & efficacy expectancies • Self-schema, attitudes • Choice of social environments • Structure of social interactions Personality, 9 -9 -09, 6 Behavioral Consistency • Reinforcement & increasing stability of social – cognitive processes Outcomes • Biomedical processes • Health behaviors • Health status

Social-cognitive + personality famework: § “Personality”-based consistency in social – Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior cognitive processes § Sarason: Within-Ss consistency in social support § Self-esteem self-efficacy § BIS / BAS approach v. avoidant coping (see Amodio paper) Personality, 9 -9 -09, 7

Biologically based models § Approach v. avoidance Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Behavioral inhibition system (BIS) v. Behavioral activation system (BAS) § Introversion v. extroversion (v. neuroticism) [Esynck] § Korte: “Hawks” v. “Doves” in coping with allostatic load (stress). § Controlled v. automatic processing § Impulsivity, sensation seeking, “thrill seeking” Developmentally early “Prepotent” response § PFC / “executive functioning”: self regulation Developmentally (& temporally) late Language dependent (? ) Disposition toward effortful cognitive control (? ) Personality, 9 -9 -09, 8

Personality health approaches § General mediating / heuristic model of personality Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior effects on health Health Behaviors “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Personality Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 9 Biomedical processes Outcomes

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Potential mental health mediators Health Behaviors Negative affect Personality Depression, “illness behavior” “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 10 Biomedical processes Outcomes

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Potential mental health mediators, 2 Health Behaviors “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Personality Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 11 Negative affect Biomedical processes Outcomes Depression, “illness behavior”

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality health approaches: Personality constructs Health Behaviors “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Personality Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 12 Biomedical processes Outcomes

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality constructs § Type A Personality § Externalizing anger & hostility § Striving & dominance § Time urgency § Negative affectivity / Neuroticism § Watson & Clark, 1984: low construct validity of affect subscales Anxiety, dysphoria / depression, alienation, loneliness, selfesteem… Differentiation from clinical depression? Ø Threshold for Rx v. chronic state § Differentiation of NA from PA (? ) Personality, 9 -9 -09, 13

Personality constructs Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Coping styles § § Approach v. avoidant “BIS” / “BAS” “Self-monitorer” v. “Blunter” Affective v. instrumental § Impulsivity § Effortful control / “Need for control” § Optimism § Carver & Schier, Seligman: LOT – R § Differentiation from: Neuroticism, NA / PA, pessimism Personality, 9 -9 -09, 14

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior LOT - R Please be as honest and accurate as you can throughout. Try not to let your response to one statement influence your responses to other statements. There are no "correct" or "incorrect" answers. Answer according to your own feelings, rather than how you think "most people" would answer. 1. In uncertain times, I usually expect the best. [2. It's easy for me to relax. ] 3. If something can go wrong for me, it will. 4. I'm always optimistic about my future. [5. I enjoy my friends a lot. ] [6. It's important for me to keep busy. ] A = I agree a lot B = I agree a little C = I neither agree nor disagree D = I DISagree a little E = I DISagree a lot 7. I hardly ever expect things to go my way. [8. I don't get upset too easily. ] 9. I rarely count on good things happening to me. 10. Overall, I expect more good things to happen to me than bad. Personality, 9 -9 -09, 15

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Big 5 model § Openness to experience § Agreeableness § Intelligence? § Tolerance for ambiguity? § Sensation seeking? § Conscientiousness § Effortful cognitive control § Neuroticism § Impulse control § “Need for control” § Trait anxiety § “Perfectionism” § “Threat sensitivity” § Perspective taking § Avoidance § Introversion Extraversion § § Sensation seeking BIS / BAS disposition Sociability Optimism? Personality, 9 -9 -09, 16

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Big 5 model § Openness to experience § Agreeableness § Intelligence? § Tolerance for ambiguity? § Sensation seeking? § Conscientiousness § Effortful cognitive control § Neuroticism § Impulse control § “Need for control” § Trait anxiety § “Perfectionism” § “Threat sensitivity” § Perspective taking § Avoidance § Introversion Extraversion § § Sensation seeking BIS / BAS disposition Sociability Optimism? Personality, 9 -9 -09, 17 Hans Eysenck’s model • Highly stable x time & context • Strong predictor of misc. social behaviors

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Big 5 model § Openness to experience § Agreeableness § Intelligence? § Tolerance for ambiguity? § Sensation seeking? § Conscientiousness § Effortful cognitive control § Neuroticism § Impulse control § “Need for control” § Trait anxiety § “Perfectionism” § “Threat sensitivity” § Perspective taking § Avoidance § Introversion Extraversion § § Sensation seeking BIS / BAS disposition Sociability Optimism? Personality, 9 -9 -09, 18 Strong associations with health behaviors & outcomes

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Grande 5 2009 2010 Personality, 9 -9 -09, 19

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality health approaches: Health behaviors Health Behaviors “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Personality Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 20 Biomedical processes Outcomes

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Health behaviors § Alcohol or drug use § Smoking § Health precautionary behaviors § Exercise § Diet § Social support acquisition / social isolation Personality, 9 -9 -09, 21

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality health approaches: Appraisal & coping Health Behaviors “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Personality Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 22 Biomedical processes Outcomes

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Appraisal & coping: Stress Taylor: Allostatic load Stress Approach Avoidance § (Perceived) Demands exceed (perceived) capacity component context Frustration, § Limited coping resources Threat Fear, anxiety anger § Key distinctions: Harm Anger Discomfort, pain Acute v. chronic Loss Controllable v. non-controllable § Cohen: Threat & affect § Perceived threat Sadness, shame ? Key assessment issue: “Objective” v. perceived stress Personal susceptibility / vulnerability Outcome expectancies Efficacy expectancies § Perceived harm § Perceived loss Personality, 9 -9 -09, 23

§ Coping models, 1 Affective (emotion-focused) v. instrumental (problem- Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior focused) Short-term, abstract / high-level v. concrete, longer-term Strong effect of efficacy & outcome expectancies § Approach (engagement) v. avoidant (disengagement) Overlaps with emotion problem focused coping Goal pursuit goal abandonment Governs effect of coping behaviors: Coping behavior Approach motive Avoidance motive Seek social support • Instrumental assistance • Distraction, • Emotional support • Emotional solace Information seeking • Problem solving • Downward comparisons Religious or spiritual • Restore resolve • Emotional support • Fatalism • Avoidance Personality, 9 -9 -09, 24

Coping models, 2 Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Accommodation v. Meaning § Changing / abandoning goals § Accommodating to. . “Negative” coping negative affect diminished capacity § Searching for meaning § “Transforming” to new life approach § Finding controllable actions Tailor: cancer survival Rodin: geriatric morbidity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 25 “Positive” coping

Coping models, 3 Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Cognitive escape v. self-awareness / selfmonitoring § “Automatic”, affective v. controlled responding § “Problem” behaviors as escape strategies § Escape as context for risk / “problem” behaviors Substance use High sensation activities Driven by, e. g. , • Low self-efficacy / generalized self-esteem • High negative affectivity • High impulsivity (? ) Personality, 9 -9 -09, 26

Coping models, 4 Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Key potential interactions § “John Henryism” among African-Americans Active coping style + limited resources § Age / gender differences: Stressors Socially “sanctioned” coping styles Personality, 9 -9 -09, 27

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality health approaches: Social behavior Health Behaviors “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Personality Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 28 Biomedical processes Outcomes

Approach of social contexts Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Support garnering § Conflict engendering § E. g. , “paranoid personality style” (Lemert) § Exposure to stressful environments § Exposure to risk environments § Peer selection § Neuroticism approach of Personality, 9 -9 -09, 29

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality coping styles Personality, 9 -9 -09, 30

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality coping styles: Type of stress as a moderator “Dispositional optimism” is associated with less avoidant coping § Effect is moderated by type of stress Academic Health Not trauma § Optimism not associated with approach coping Personality, 9 -9 -09, 31

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality health approaches: Reactivity Health Behaviors “Appraisal”: Stress & coping Personality Selective approach of social contexts Physiological reactivity Personality, 9 -9 -09, 32 Biomedical processes Outcomes

Physiological reactivity Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Hypothalamic / pituitary / adrenal [HPA] axis § Heart rate § Bp § Cortisol / catecholamines § Pro-inflammatory cytokines Personality, 9 -9 -09, 33

Personality effects: moderating & mediating variables § Taylor: simultaneous mediating & moderating effects Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior surrounding Big 5 factors Mortality Figure 5. Structural equation model to show the relationships between NEO-FFI conscientiousness and other risk factors on all-cause mortality in men (N 652). All of the parameters were statistically significant. Coefficients placed beside arrows may be squared to give the percentage of variance shared by adjacent variables. Personality, 9 -9 -09, 34 Figure 6. Structural equation model to show the relationships between NEO-FFI openness and other risk factors on all-cause mortality in men (N 652). All of the parameters were statistically significant. Coefficients placed beside arrows may be squared to give the percentage of variance shared by adjacent variables.

Personality effects: moderating & mediating variables, 2 Crawford et al. (2003): Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Consistent with a “cognitive escape” model, lessened concern over HIV mediates the effect of SS on risk. Lessened concern Sensation seeking § Relationship status moderates the effect of lessened concern HIV risk. Personality, 9 -9 -09, 35 Sexual risk

Some general notes on personality approaches § Utility to translate into more practical applications. Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior § Are core personality constructs changeable? Is stability a defining characteristic? If so, how is personality research applicable? § Does a general shift, e. g. , in “well being” translate into actual health behavior later. § Intersection of (more transient) affect with stable personality variables: Melissa Cyder, U Kentucky § Tendency to act rashly (risky sexual behavior, alcohol abuse) exacerbated by intense negative and positive mood. § Positive urgency, liked with a specific genetic polymorphism, prospectively predicts increases in the quantity of alcohol consumed per occasion § Sensation seeking only predicts increases in drinking frequency - taking on a more global role. Personality, 9 -9 -09, 36

Notes, 2 § Important aspect of addiction research in general is Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior a lack of clearly defined terms. § de Wit: impulsivity not defined consistently across studies § Also true of the term "addiction“: Translation of addiction -like constructs into, e. g. , Ø Internet Pinball? Ø Sex Ø Exercise … § BIS / BAS model is changing: § shifting from looking at behavioral outcomes § to broader cognitive and self-regulatory processes. § What does BIS / BAS actually capture? Personality, 9 -9 -09, 37

Context of personality effects? § Context-dependency and its role in personality Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior behavior linkages § focusing on broad links between personality and health behavior is missing a fundamental, more exogenous, component: social context. § Yanovitzky (2005): “Deviant” peers Sensation seeking ~ Crawford and my findings re: ψ context (mediator)… Sensation seeking Personality, 9 -9 -09, 38 Bad behavior Lessened concern Sexual risk