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Objective: Type D personality is characterised by negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), and is often associated with poorer physical and psychological health. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear and the literature lacks longitudinal assessment. Therefore, the aim was to prospectively examine the relationships between Type D and physical symptoms, in addition to aspects of retrospective health. Design: An online questionnaire-based study ( N  = 535) with a one-year follow-up ( N  = 160) was conducted with healthy individuals (18-65 years). Type D was assessed as both a categorical and dimensional construct. Main outcome measures: Participants completed the Type D scale-14 (DS14), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Cohen-Hoberman Inventory of Physical Symptoms (CHIPS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at both phases. Retrospective health questions and the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) were also completed at follow-up. Results: Type D was independently related to cardiac/sympathetic, metabolic, vasovagal, muscular and headache symptoms at baseline. At follow-up stressful events and anxiety mediated the relationships between Type D and particular symptoms. Type Ds were more likely to report poorer health, increased minor illnesses, work absences, and medical information seeking. Conclusions: Type D is associated with symptoms often linked to stress. Although the relationships appear to be primarily driven by NA, these findings support the theory of a stress-related mechanism potentially underpinning the Type D-health relationship. These findings contribute to the literature continuing to highlight Type D personality as a risk factor for negative health outcomes.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Cohen-Hoberman inventory of physical symptoms (CHIPS). Construct and discriminant validity were examined by assessing associations between factors and subjective health complaints (SHC) inventory subscales in addition to measures of pain sensitivity, perceived stress and psychological distress., Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 535 healthy individuals from the general population (80.6% female, mean age = 29.80)., Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed CHIPS, SHC, perceived stress scale, pain sensitivity questionnaire, and hospital anxiety and depression scale., Results: Principal components analysis demonstrated that CHIPS comprised 8 'symptoms' factors as follows; 'sympathetic/cardiac' (7 items; α = .827), 'muscular' (6 items; α = .752), 'metabolic' (5 items; α = .736), 'gastrointestinal' (5 items; α = .714), 'vasovagal' (4 items; α = .743), 'cold/flu' (2 items; α = .837), 'headache' (2 items; α = .690) and 'minor haemorrhagic' (2 items; α = .309). Significant correlations were observed between factors and SHC subscales (moderate-high), pain sensitivity (negligible-low) and levels of perceived stress and anxiety (low-moderate) indicating good construct, and discriminant validity, respectively., Conclusions: CHIPS is a multidimensional and internally consistent measurement of physical symptoms. The postulated factor structure may be used for research purposes particularly in health psychology, to consistently differentiate between clusters of self-reported symptoms.