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Bifactor models are a promising strategy to parse general from specific aspects of psychopathology in youth. Currently, there are multiple configurations of bifactor models originating from different theoretical and empirical perspectives. We aimed to test the reliability, validity, measurement invariance, and the correlation of different bifactor models of psychopathology using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We used data from the Reproducible Brain Charts (RBC) initiative (N = 7,011, ages 5 to 22 years, 40.2% females). Factor models were tested using the baseline data. To address our aim, we (a) searched for the published item-level bifactor models using the CBCL; (b) tested their global model fit; (c) calculated model-based reliability indices; (d) tested associations with symptoms' impact in everyday life; (e) tested measurement invariance across many characteristics, and (f) analyzed the observed factor correlation across the models. We found 11 bifactor models ranging from 39 to 116 items. Their global model fit was broadly similar. Factor determinacy and H index were acceptable for the p-factors, internalizing, externalizing, and somatic specific factors in most models. However, only the p- and attention factors predicted daily life symptoms' impact in all models. Models were broadly invariant across different characteristics. P-factors were highly correlated across models (r = .88 to .99) and homotypic specific factors were highly correlated. These results suggest that regardless of item selection and strategy to compose CBCL bifactor models, they assess very similar constructs. Taken together, our results support the robustness of the p-factor across distinct bifactor models and studies of distinct characteristics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to identify meaningful subtypes of emotional dysregulation in an outpatient pediatric psychiatry clinic. METHODS: The sample consisted of 417 newly referred youth 6–18 years of age. Parents completed the CBCL and rating scales measuring executive function deficits, social functioning, and quality of life. Patients were stratified into subtypes of emotional dysregulation and compared on clinical correlates based on the A-A-A profile consisting of the CBCL Anxious/Depressed, Aggressive Behavior, and Attention Problems (A-A-A) scales. RESULTS: 67% of youth had emotional dysregulation (CBCL A-A-A T-score ≥180) and of these, 39% had a positive CBCL-Bipolar (BP) profile (A-A-A T-score ≥210), 24% had depression without the BP profile (CBCL Anxious/Depressed and/or Withdrawn/Depressed T-scores ≥70 and A-A-A T-score ≥180 and

Background: Greater neuroticism has been associated with higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. However, the directionality of this association is unclear. We examined whether personality traits differ between cognitively-unimpaired carriers of autosomal-dominant AD (ADAD) and non-carriers, and are associated with in vivo AD pathology. Objective: To determine whether personality traits differ between cognitively unimpaired ADAD mutation carriers and non-carriers, and whether the traits are related to age and AD biomarkers. Methods: A total of 33 cognitively-unimpaired Presenilin-1 E280A mutation carriers and 41 non-carriers (ages 27–46) completed neuropsychological testing and the NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory. A subsample (n = 46; 20 carriers) also underwent tau and amyloid PET imaging. Results: Carriers reported higher neuroticism relative to non-carriers, although this difference was not significant after controlling for sex. Neuroticism was positively correlated with entorhinal tau levels only in carriers, but not with amyloid levels. Conclusion: The finding of higher neuroticism in carriers and the association of this trait with tau pathology in preclinical stages of AD highlights the importance of including personality measures in the evaluation of individuals at increased risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. Further research is needed to characterize the mechanisms of these relationships.

Background Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are still poorly understood and difficult to treat. Attachment theory could add new aspects to the understanding of the multifactorial genesis and maintenance of PNES and the therapeutic needs of this patient group. Objective The aim of the present study is to systematically assess attachment in adult patients with PNES with a focus on the role of unresolved/disorganized attachment. Methods A cross-sectional design was chosen to compare patients with confirmed PNES (n = 44) and healthy controls (n = 44) matched for gender, age, and education. Attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System. Psychometric questionnaires included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) axis II disorders, Patient Questionnaire; the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire; and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Results We found significantly less secure (P = 0.006) and more unresolved/disorganized (P = 0.041) attachment classifications in the PNES group. Among patients with PNES, 7% were classified secure and 43% were classified unresolved/disorganized. Patients with an unresolved attachment representation were significantly more likely to be screened positive for personality pathology in the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV axis II disorders, Patient Questionnaire (P = 0.03) and to report more emotional abuse in the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (P = 0.007) than patients with other attachment classifications. Conclusions Our findings suggest that unresolved/disorganized attachment might be the predominant attachment style in patients with PNES and might be associated with more severe personality pathology. This could be of therapeutic relevance. The present study is the first to assess adult attachment in patients with PNES using a semi-structured interview in comparison to matched healthy controls.

In this issue of Cancer Cell, Bagaev et al. discover conserved relationships between immune and stroma activity that are prognostic and predictive of response to immunotherapy across cancer types. The authors develop a visualization tool, akin to a tumor personality test, to integrate genomic and microenvironmental profiling and guide therapeutic decision-making.

Aims and objectives To explore the relationship between personality traits, caring characteristics and abuse tendency among professional caregivers of older people with dementia in long-term care facilities in China. Background Elder abuse is a serious global health problem and human right violation with high incidence among older people with dementia. There are many investigations about impact factors of risk of abuse among family caregivers of older people with dementia. However, in long-term care facilities, the situation of abuse tendency needs further investigation. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods An observational survey was conducted according to the STROBE checklist. We investigated 156 professional caregivers of older people with dementia in three long-term care facilities in Guangzhou, China. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) and the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Data were analysed using Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman's rank correlation and logistic regression analyses. Results Over half of the participants (51.9%) reported abuse tendency to the older people with dementia. There was a significant negative correlation between the caregivers' agreeableness scores of NEO-FFI and their CASE scores. Multivariate logistic regression analyses highlighted that protective factors of abuse tendency were caregivers' agreeableness, care recipients' source of finances and their duration of dementia while higher care difficulty and presence of older people's behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) were the risk factors. Conclusion Caregivers' agreeableness personality trait and the caring characteristics of older people with dementia may be relevant to abuse tendency in long-term care facilities. Further study with a larger sample size is needed to validate such a correlation. Relevance to clinical practice Older people with dementia are at high risk for abuse. Prospective caregivers could pay more attention to developing their own agreeableness. The managers might establish monitoring system for reducing the abuse.

To feel other’s pain would elicit empathy. Some theorists hypothesized that observing other’s pain may activate the primary emotion of maternal care instinct, which may function as a precursor of empathy. The maternal care instinct and empathy share the same genetic background and neuroendocrine underpinnings. An extensive body of research has shown that maternal behaviors relate to the oxytocinergic system, which has a strong influence on empathy. These studies suggest that the maternal care instinct may mediate the effect of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) on empathy. To provide evidence for this mediation, we used the subscale of CARE in Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) to measure the maternal care instinct and tested two OXTR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs53576 and rs13316193, in 880 high school participants (588 females, 292 males; Mage = 16.51 years old, SD = 0.65). Results showed that the genotype of rs13316193 was indirectly associated with empathy via CARE, suggesting a mediating role of CARE in the pathway from OXTR to empathy. These findings may contribute to an understanding of how empathy emerges when one witnesses another person in pain.

Introduction Marijuana is one of the most widely used psychoactive substance. There is evidence of genetic predisposition for addiction. Objective The aim of the study is to evaluate personality traits measured by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, combined with analysis of Tag1B rs1079597 and Tag1D rs1800498 located in the DRD2 gene. Material and methods The study group consisted of 214 rural cannabinoid users and 301 controls. The same psychometric test and real-time PCR genotyping were performed in both studied groups. Results The values of Anxiety state, Anxiety trait, NEO FFI: Neuroticism and Openness in the rural cannabis using group were significantly higher than in the control group. On the other hand, lower values were observed among rural people using cannabis compared to the control group for NEO FFI: Extraversion, Agreeability and Conscientiousness. In the Anxiety trait subscale, a 2% association with the polymorphism DRD2 Tag1B rs1079597 was detected in subjects using cannabis. However, for the DRD2 Tag1D rs1800498, there was no effect on the differences in personality traits between rural cannabis users and the control group. Conclusions The study shows differences in personality traits between the cannabis using group and controls. Interaction between genetic factors and personality traits was also detected. The association showing the combination of psychological characteristics and genetic variants can bring us closer to the overall picture of the issue of marijuana addiction.

The Identity Disruption Model posits that negative early life experiences are associated with disrupted personal identity, which in turn increases the risk of internalizing societal standards of attractiveness and body dissatisfaction. Although internalization plays a central role in this model, it is unclear which aspect(s) of internalization (awareness, endorsement, or internalization) are most relevant to the Identity Disruption Model. To address this issue, female participants (N = 278) completed measures of the following constructs: early adversity; self-concept clarity; awareness, endorsement, and internalization of societal standards of attractiveness; and body dissatisfaction. Self-concept clarity was negatively correlated with internalization (r = -.45, p .001), but was not significantly correlated with awareness (r = -.05) or endorsement (r = -.11). Furthermore, structural equational modeling showed that there was a significant indirect path from early adversity to self-concept clarity to internalization to body dissatisfaction (unstandardized b = .015, SE

Introduction: This study examines the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) validity scales to detect invalid responding within a sample...

The aim of this study was to analyze evidence of convergent and concurrent criterion validity of the scales of the short form of the Jesness Inventory - Revised - Brazilian version. A sample of 597 male adolescents, aged between 12 and 20 years, participated in the study. The evidence of convergent validity obtained indicates that most scales would have maintained their interpretive meaning in the short form. They also indicated the need for further investigations on the Immaturity scale. The concurrent criterion validity suggests that high scores on the scales can differentiate adolescents based on both criteria, Judicialization and Frequency of self-reported delinquency in the last 12 months. Investment in standardized and brief instruments can drive the development of evidence-based practices in the juvenile justice system and, for this, a research agenda is presented.

Introduction: This study evaluated symptom endorsement patterns in participants at various stratified performance levels on the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). It was hypothesized that the lowes...

Child birth is one of the most important events in a mother’s life. Different factors influence whether a child is delivered by cesarean or normal vaginal delivery. Despite the complications of cesarean, demand for this type of delivery is increasing. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of personal traits on the choice of the delivery method based on HEXACO personality model. Two hundred and ten pregnant women in some health centers in Tehran volunteered to participate in this research. To identify their personality dimensions, the pregnant women first filled out HEXACO personality forms. Then, the received data were analyzed through multivariate analysis of variance using a software package called SPSS–23. 104 women selected cesarean and 106 other women preferred normal vaginal delivery. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups of women for six personality factors in HEXACO (P = 0.001). The linear combination of personality characteristics of pregnant women has a significant effect on the choice of delivery method (P

Resumo O presente estudo objetivou conhecer o poder preditivo dos traços de personalidade, dos valores humanos e do perfeccionismo para com a procrastinação acadêmica, propondo um modelo explicativo. Participaram 348 universitários, a maioria do sexo feminino (58.4 %), com idade média de 22 anos (DP = 5.9). Estes, responderam a Escala de Procrastinação Acadêmica; a Escala de Quase Perfeição - Revisada; o Questionário dos Valores Básicos; o Inventário dos Cinco Grandes Fatores da Personalidade e perguntas demográficas. Baseado na regressão, propôs-se um modelo explicativo no qual a conscienciosidade predisse as dimensões de perfeccionismo (adaptativo e desadaptativo) e estas, por sua vez, predisseram a procrastinação acadêmica. Os resultados apontam para um ajuste satisfatório deste modelo que contribuem para o entendimento da procrastinação acadêmica. Resumen Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comprender el poder predictivo de los rasgos de personalidad, los valores humanos y el perfeccionismo hacia la procrastinación académica, proponiendo un modelo explicativo. Participaron 348 estudiantes universitarios, la mayoría mujeres (58.4 %), con una edad media de 22 años (DE = 5.9). Estas respondieron a la Escala de Procrastinación Académica; la Escala de Casi Perfección - Revisada; el Cuestionario de Valores Básicos; el Inventario de los Cinco Grandes Factores de la Personalidad y preguntas demográficas. A partir de un análisis de regresión, se propuso un modelo explicativo en el que la escrupulosidad predijo las dimensiones del perfeccionismo (adaptativo y desadaptativo) y estas, a su vez, predijeron la procrastinación académica. Los resultados apuntan a un ajuste satisfactorio de este modelo que contribuye a la comprensión de la procrastinación académica. Abstract The present study aimed at discerning the predictive power of personality traits, human values, and perfectionism towards academic procrastination, proposing an explanatory model. Participants were 348 undergraduates, most of them female (58.4 %), with a mean age of 22 years (SD = 5.9). They answered the Academic Procrastination Scale, the Almost Perfect Scale - Revised, the Basic Values Survey, the Big Five Inventory, and demographic questions. Based on regression analysis, an explanatory model was proposed where conscientiousness predicted the dimensions of perfectionism (adaptive and maladaptive) that in turn predicted academic procrastination. Results suggested a satisfactory fit of the model to the indices that contributes to the understanding of academic procrastination.

Trait neuroticism refers to individual differences in negative emotional response to threat, frustration, or loss, operationally defined by elevated levels of irritability, anger, sadness, anxiety, worry, hostility, self-consciousness, and vulnerability to mental and physical difficulties. While functional studies have been fairly consistent when identifying regions associated with neuroticism during emotional stimuli, structural imagining studies do not tend to find a relationship between amygdala volume and trait neuroticism. There is a great deal of functional evidence that frontoparietal areas are related to the amygdala, and to emotional reactivity more generally, as a function of their involvement in emotion regulation. Specifically, top-down emotion appraisal and expression appear to involve parts of the dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices, which operate at least in part via the indirect modulation of the amygdala. It was hypothesized that cortical surface area and cortical thickness in regions associated with emotion appraisal/expression and emotional attention (i.e., superior frontal and rostral middle frontal gyri, respectively) would have an indirect effect on the relationship between amygdala volume and self-reported neuroticism (respectively), potentially explaining the inconsistency in the structural literature. In sample of 1106 adults, superior frontal and rostral middle frontal gyri, as parcellated by Freesurfer, were examined as potentially restricting variance in a model of indirect effects, which may elucidate the overall relationship between cortical and subcortical gray matter volume and trait neuroticism. Results indicated that, despite no association between bilateral amygdala volume and trait neuroticism, when right superior frontal surface area was entered into the model of indirect effects, a significant relationship between amygdala volume and trait neuroticism emerged. Two of the three remaining models indicated that cortical surface area had an indirect effect on the relationship between amygdala volume and trait neuroticism. These findings highlight the relationship between structural and functional neuroimaging studies. Specifically, the results indicate that when volume is related to behavior, individual differences in higher-order cortical regions, particularly surface area, may help to better understand the relationship between emotion and subcortical gray matter volume.

Personality traits, such as higher Neuroticism and lower Conscientiousness, are associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. A diagnosis of dementia relies, in part, on informant ratings of the individual's cognitive status. Here we examine whether self-reported personality traits are associated with four measures of informant-rated cognition up to a decade later. Participants from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,536) completed a five-factor model measure of personality in 2006 or 2008. Informants completed the 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP), which included ratings of the participant's current cognitive functioning and change in cognitive function over the last decade assessed with the IQCODE, Blessed, 1066, and CSID. Controlling for characteristics of the participant, informant, and their relationship, higher Neuroticism and lower Conscientiousness were associated consistently with worse informant-rated cognition. The association between Openness and better informant-rated cognition was due primarily to higher baseline cognitive function. Extraversion and Agreeableness were associated with better informant-rated cognition only among participants who were cognitively intact at follow-up. The present research suggests that knowledgeable informants are able to detect cognitive deficits associated with personality.

BackgroundSchizotypy, a putative schizophrenia endophenotype, has been associated with brain-structural variations partly overlapping with those in psychotic disorders. Variations in precuneus structure have been repeatedly reported, whereas the involvement of fronto-striatal networks – as in schizophrenia – is less clear. While shared genetic architecture is thought to increase vulnerability to environmental insults, beneficial factors like general intelligence might buffer their effect.MethodsTo further investigate the role of fronto-striatal networks in schizotypy, we examined the relationship of voxel- and surface-based brain morphometry and a measure of schizotypal traits (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, with subscores Cognitive-Perceptual, Interpersonal, Disorganised) in 115 healthy participants [54 female, mean age (s.d.) = 27.57(8.02)]. We tested intelligence (MWT-B) as a potential moderator.ResultsWe found a positive association of SPQ Cognitive-Perceptual with putamen volume (p = 0.040, FWE peak level-corrected), moderated by intelligence: with increasing IQ, the correlation of SPQ Cognitive-Perceptual and striatal volume decreased (p = 0.022). SPQ Disorganised was positively correlated with precentral volume (p = 0.013, FWE peak level-corrected). In an exploratory analysis (p < 0.001, uncorrected), SPQ total score was positively associated with gyrification in the precuneus and postcentral gyrus, and SPQ Disorganised was negatively associated with gyrification in the inferior frontal gyrus.ConclusionsOur findings support the role of fronto-striatal networks for schizotypal features in healthy individuals, and suggest that these are influenced by buffering factors like intelligence. We conclude that protective factors, like general cognitive capacity, might attenuate the psychosis risk associated with schizotypy. These results endorse the idea of a continuous nature of schizotypy, mirroring similar findings in schizophrenia.

Purpose Behavior studies have found that exercise addiction is associated with high impulsivity. In other addictions, neural mechanisms of impulsivity reflect abnormalities in the reward and inhibition systems. In this study, we determined whether abnormalities existed in the reward and inhibition systems of exercise addicts. Methods Three groups of male participants (15 exercise addicts, 18 regular exercisers, and 16 exercise avoiders) completed the Mini International Personality Item Pool (Mini-IPIP), the classic go/no-go task, and the exercise-related go/no-go task. Event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded during the go/no-go tasks, and correctly performed trials were analyzed. Results Exercise addicts scored lower for extraversion and higher for neuroticism, reflecting a poor capacity for emotional regulation and impulse control, and had larger N2 and P3d amplitudes during the exercise-related go/no-go task. Exercise addicts and exercise avoiders demonstrated impaired accuracy in the exercise-related go/no-go task and had larger N2 amplitudes compared with regular exercisers during the letter–digit go/no-go task. Exercise addicts and regular exercisers showed larger Go-N1 and Go-P2 amplitudes compared with exercise avoiders during the exercise-related go/no-go task. Exercisers (exercise addicts and regular exercisers) demonstrated higher activation in response to exercise-related stimuli as reflected by larger N1 and P2, and addicts (exercise addicts) demonstrated poorer inhibition as reflected by larger N2 and P3d amplitudes. Go-N1 and Go-P2 were significantly correlated with no-go accuracy in exercise-related task. Conclusions Exercise addicts scored higher for the neuroticism personality trait and exhibited overactivation of the reward system and underactivation of the inhibition system. Overactivation of the reward system may be related to long-term exposure to exercise. Underactivation of the inhibition system may be a crucial factor in exercise addiction.

The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) is one of the most widely used screening tools for schizotypy in adults. The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Child version (SPQ-C) was recently developed to assess schizotypy in children and has a similar three-factor structure to the adult SPQ (i.e., Cognitive-Perceptual, Interpersonal-Affective, and Disorganization). However, few studies to date have reported on the psychometric properties and the usefulness of the SPQ-C in Eastern populations, including Mainland China. This study presents the first psychometric assessment of the Chinese SPQ-C in Mainland China. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess the factor structure of the SPQ-C in 1668 children (M = 12.10, SD = 0.60 years) from the China Jintan Child Cohort Study. Our findings document a three-factor structure and partial measurement invariance across residential location and gender, replicating the psychometric properties of the SPQ-C in English. The Chinese SPQ-C further correlates with standard behavioral problems (i.e., Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report and Teacher Report Form), demonstrating construct validity and utility as a child psychopathology assessment tool. Our findings provide the first robust psychometric evidence for a three-factor structure of the Chinese SPQ-C in a large Mainland Chinese sample, and suggest that the SPQ-C is suitable as a screening tool for schizotypy in community children who may be at risk for behavioral problems and later psychosis.

OBJECTIVE AND METHOD Numerous risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been identified; however, many do not inform treatment. Psychological inflexibility is a modifiable factor that can be targeted in psychological treatment. This study examined whether higher levels of psychological inflexibility predicted unique variance in PTSD symptom severity at 1-year follow-up in 236 U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq in Afghanistan after accounting for the strongest known risk factors for PTSD. PTSD symptom severity was assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale. RESULTS In hierarchical regression analyses, higher baseline psychological inflexibility predicted unique variance in 1-year PTSD symptom severity (p < .001, medium effect) after accounting for the strongest predictors, including: serving in the Army, rank, trauma severity, perceived threat, peritraumatic dissociation, recent life stress, and social support. Psychological inflexibility remained a significant predictor of unique variance in 1-year PTSD symptom severity after accounting for all other predictors and personality factors (neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness; p < .001, small effect) and after accounting for all other predictors, personality factors, and baseline PTSD avoidance symptoms (p < .001; small effect). CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate a key unique association between psychological inflexibility and PTSD symptom severity over time that is not attributable to overlap with personality or PTSD avoidance symptoms. Additional research on psychological inflexibility in the development and maintenance of PTSD is warranted, as well as whether increasing psychological flexibility leads to reductions in PTSD symptoms and improved psychosocial functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective:Loneliness and social isolation have negative health consequences and are associated with depression. Personality characteristics are important when studying persons at risk for loneliness and social isolation. The objective of this study was to clarify the association between personality factors, loneliness and social network, taking into account diagnosis of depression, partner status and gender.Design:Cross-sectional data of an ongoing prospective cohort study, the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO), were used.Setting and participants:474 participants were recruited from mental health care institutions and general practitioners in five different regions in the Netherlands.Measurements:NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) personality factors and loneliness and social network were measured as well as possible confounders. Multinominal logistic regression analyses were performed to analyse the associations between NEO-FFI factors and loneliness and social network. Interaction terms were investigated for depression, partner status and gender.Results:Higher neuroticism and lower extraversion in women and lower agreeableness in both men and women were associated with loneliness but not with social network size irrespective of the presence of depression. In the non-depressed group only, lower openness was associated with loneliness. Interaction terms with partner status were not significant.Conclusions:Personality factors are associated with loneliness especially in women. In men lower agreeableness contributes to higher loneliness. In non-depressed men and women, lower openness is associated with loneliness. Personality factors are not associated with social network size.

Recent applications of item response tree models demonstrate that this model class is well suited to detect midpoint and extremity response style effects in both attitudinal and personality measurements. This paper proposes an extension of this approach that goes beyond measuring response styles and allows us to examine item-feature effects. In a reanalysis of three published data sets, it is shown that the proposed extension captures item-feature effects across affirmative and reverse-worded items in a psychological test. These effects are found to affect directional responses but not midpoint and extremity preferences. Moreover, accounting for item-feature effects substantially improves model fit and interpretation of the construct measurement. The proposed extension can be implemented readily with current software programs that facilitate maximum likelihood estimation of item response models with missing data.

Background In literature, there are many instruments for evaluating workaholism; however, they do not have convergent validity, because of the lack of a shared definition of workaholism. Objective We propose a new instrument for evaluating workaholism and work engagement, namely the Work-related Inventory (WI-10), which is based on Loscalzo and Giannini's (2017) comprehensive definition of workaholism. Methods We developed a pool of 36 items, covering: 1) addiction symptoms; 2) obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and 3) work engagement. Then, we conducted Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor analyses on a sample of 503 Italian workers (165 males, 337 females, one missing; Mean age = 38.26±10.84) aiming to reduce the number of items. Results The results showed a 10-items (2 filler) and 2-factor solution: 1) Workaholism and 2) Work Engagement; moreover, the WI-10 has good internal reliability, convergent and divergent validity. Conclusions We found good psychometric properties for the WI-10. We also proposed the cut-off scores for the screening of the four kinds of workers proposed by Loscalzo and Giannini (2017): disengaged workaholics, engaged workaholics, engaged workers, and detached workers. The WI-10 will be useful for both research and preventive and clinical purposes.

We used an experimental design to test the key concern that expressive empathy from evaluators during forensic interviews leads to more disclosure of misbehavior (e.g., stealing, breaking the law, manipulating others) from evaluees. In the context of a psychopathy assessment interview, evaluees (N = 94, 100% male, 57.4% Caucasian) interviewed by an evaluator using expressive empathy techniques were no more likely than those interviewed by an evaluator avoiding expressive empathy techniques to admit to past instances of misbehavior (d = .17, 95% CI [-.24, .57]). Instead, the use of expressive empathy techniques seemed to influence evaluator perceptions of the evaluees. Evaluators using expressive empathy rated evaluees as less psychopathic (d = -.52, 95% CI [-.93, -.11]), more conscientious (d = .72, 95% CI [.30, 1.13]), and as having engaged in less impression management (d = -.54, 95% CI [-.95, -.13]) than evaluators avoiding the use of expressive empathy. Put simply, when evaluators expressed empathy, it influenced the evaluator, not the evaluee. These findings suggest the need to expand professional discourse and research on empathy in forensic evaluations to better understand the possible effects of evaluator empathy on both evaluators and evaluees. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

This study investigated if scores on tests of personal qualities are affected by whether they will determine selection decisions ("high stakes") or not; and whether they are stable for individuals and groups across a four-year medical course. Two tests, one assessing values and one assessing components of personality, were administered either at the same time as a medical university entrance exam (first cohort

Background Identification of successful general surgical residents remains a challenging endeavor for program directors with a national attrition of approximately 20% per year. The Big 5 personality traits and the Grit Scale have been extensively studied in many industries, and certain traits are associated with professional or academic success. However, their utility in surgery resident selection is unknown. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all categorical surgery residents (n = 34) at the University of Texas Medical Branch from 2015 to 2017. Current residents were classified into low performing (n = 12) or non-low performing (n = 22) based on residency performance and standardized test scores. Groups were assessed for differences in both conventional metrics used for selection and Big 5 and grit scores using bivariate analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Personality testing was administered to recent resident applicants (n = 81). Applicants were ranked using conventional application information. We then examined the applicants' personalities and their rank position with personality characteristics of non–low-performing residents to determine if there was any correlation. Results The Big 5 personality test identified significantly higher extroversion, conscientiousness, and emotional stability scores in those residents classified as non–low performers. There was no significant difference in conventional metrics or in grit scores between non–low performers and low performers. Our final rank does not correlate well with personality traits of non–low performers. Conclusions The Big 5 test may prove to be a useful adjunct to the traditional residency application in identifying applicants who may become successful in general surgery residency.

Objectives We used data from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on Adult Development (ILSE study) to investigate whether associations of cognitive abilities with late-life personality changes are moderated by individuals’ physical health. Method Individuals born between 1930 and 1932 (n = 473; mean baseline age: 62.87 years) were assessed up to four times over a period of about 20 years (M = 20.34 years). Cognitive abilities were assessed based on multiple tests representing various cognitive functions. In addition, the Big Five personality traits were measured. Study participants’ health was rated by a physician based on several in-depth medical examinations. Results Health appeared as a significant moderator of the associations between cognitive abilities and personality trajectories: First, lower cognitive abilities were associated with an increase in neuroticism in individuals with poor health, but not in those with good health. Second, lower cognitive abilities were related with an increase in agreeableness in older adults with good health, but with a decrease in agreeableness among those with poor health. Third, better cognitive abilities were associated with stability in conscientiousness, but only among individuals with poorer health. Discussion Our findings suggest that once health is compromised, cognitive abilities may become a compensatory resource to prevent undesirable personality changes.

Psychologists and other behavioral scientists are frequently interested in whether a questionnaire measures a latent construct. Attempts to address this issue are referred to as construct validation. We describe and extend nonparametric hypothesis testing procedures to assess matrix structures, which can be used for construct validation. These methods are based on a quadratic assignment framework and can be used either by themselves or to check the robustness of other methods. We investigate the performance of these matrix structure tests through simulations and demonstrate their use by analyzing a big five personality traits questionnaire administered as part of the Health and Retirement Study. We also derive rates of convergence for our overall test to better understand its behavior.

The $$\theta $$ metric in item response theory is often not the most useful metric for score reporting or interpretation. In this paper, I demonstrate that the filtered monotonic polynomial (FMP) item response model, a recently proposed nonparametric item response model (Liang & Browne in J Educ Behav Stat 40:5–34, 2015), can be used to specify item response models on metrics other than the $$\theta $$ metric. Specifically, I demonstrate that any item response function (IRF) defined within the FMP framework can be re-expressed as another FMP IRF by taking monotonic transformations of the latent trait. I derive the item parameter transformations that correspond to both linear and nonlinear transformations of the latent trait metric. These item parameter transformations can be used to define an item response model based on any monotonic transformation of the $$\theta $$ metric, so long as the metric transformation is approximated by a monotonic polynomial. I demonstrate this result by defining an item response model directly on the approximate true score metric and discuss the implications of metric transformations for applied testing situations.

The 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) is the most widely used measure to assess the personality construct of alexithymia and is composed of three-factor analytically derived subscales. These subscales measure and represent three critical, theoretically based facets of alexithymia. The subscales are distinct, yet highly interrelated and only as a collective body do they reflect adequately the alexithymia construct. Although different studies using both university student and community samples suggest that TAS-20 total scores are largely reflective of variation on a single construct, and that subscale scores do not provide unique and reliable information beyond total scores, many users of the scale frequently continue to employ and even rely more heavily on subscale scores rather than total scale scores when interpreting research study outcomes. Our goal in this study is to provide clinicians and researchers with replicable psychometric information for the TAS-20 estimated from bifactor modeling in an attempt to provide further support for using total rather than subscale scores. In general, our findings were consistent with previous studies indicating that TAS-20 total scores can be considered indicative of a single construct. The replication of these earlier results from previous investigations provides additional support for the use of a total TAS-20 score and questions the utility of using TAS-20 subscale scores. Based on these results, we recommend that researchers and clinicians use a single total TAS-20 score and not subscale scores. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Personality tests employing comparative judgments have been proposed as an alternative to Likert-type rating scales. One of the main advantages of a comparative format is that it can reduce faking of responses in high-stakes situations. However, previous research has shown that it is highly difficult to obtain trait score estimates that are both faking resistant and sufficiently accurate for individual-level diagnostic decisions. With the goal of contributing to a solution, I study the information obtainable from comparative judgments analyzed by means of Thurstonian IRT models. First, I extend the mathematical theory of ordinal comparative judgments and corresponding models. Second, I provide optimal test designs for Thurstonian IRT models that maximize the accuracy of people’s trait score estimates from both frequentist and Bayesian statistical perspectives. Third, I derive analytic upper bounds for the accuracy of these trait estimates achievable through ordinal Thurstonian IRT models. Fourth, I perform numerical experiments that complement results obtained in earlier simulation studies. The combined analytical and numerical results suggest that it is indeed possible to design personality tests using comparative judgments that yield trait scores estimates sufficiently accurate for individual-level diagnostic decisions, while reducing faking in high-stakes situations. Recommendations for the practical application of comparative judgments for the measurement of personality, specifically in high-stakes situations, are given.

Despite the widespread use of the HEXACO model as a descriptive taxonomy of personality traits, there remains limited information on the test-retest reliability of commonly-used inventories to measure its traits. Studies typically report internal consistency estimates, such as alpha or omega, as measures of reliability, but there are good reasons to believe that these do not accurately assess reliability. Therefore, we report 12-day test-retest correlations of the 100- and 60-item English HEXACO-Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-100 and HEXACO-60) domains, facets, and items. In order to test the validity of test-retest reliability, we then compare these estimates to correlations between self- and informant- reports (also known as cross-rater agreement), a widely-used validity criterion, as well as to domain and facet internal consistencies. Median estimates of test-retest reliability were .88, .81, and .65 (N = 416) for domains, facets, and items, respectively. Facets' and items' test-retest reliabilities were highly correlated with their cross-rater agreement estimates, whereas alphas were not. Overall, the HEXACO-Personality Inventory-Revised demonstrates test-retest reliability similar to other contemporary measures. We recommend that short-term retest reliability should be routinely calculated to assess reliability.

INTRODUCTION: Scientific literature on determining patterns of personality traits in patients with anal fissure is limited. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether certain common psychological traits are associated with anal fissure. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in Spain in 2016-2017. Patients with acute or chronic idiopathic anal fissure (n = 35) and controls (n = 32) were recruited. The main outcome measures were those defined in the NEO-FFI questionnaire, validated in Spain, which was administered to all the participants. This questionnaire evaluates the following traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. RESULTS: Three significant traits were noted: (1) greater neuroticism in the cases (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.08-1.32, p < 0.001, AUC 0.77), (2) greater openness to experience in the controls (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.98, p = 0.015, AUC 0.69), and (3) greater conscientiousness in the controls (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-1.00, p = 0.049, AUC 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: The cases mainly presented higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of openness to experience and conscientiousness. Further studies are needed to corroborate our results.

This study examines whether age associates with entrepreneurship tendencies across the lifespan, after taking into account aspects of personality that affect entrepreneurship. Participants (N = 963) aged 18–81, including 200 actual entrepreneurs, completed questionnaires about entrepreneurship tendency, personality traits, and attachment orientations. Results show that age is associated with a reduced tendency to engage in entrepreneurial activity. However, this decline is quite limited, it weakens with age, and is absent after age 50. In addition, the negative association of age with entrepreneurial tendency is smaller in participants with above-median entrepreneurship tendency scores relative to those with below-median scores, and it disappears in actual entrepreneurs. Furthermore, most of the traits that have been previously associated with entrepreneurial tendencies, especially Openness to Experience and Extraversion, remain unchanged with age, accounting for the stability of entrepreneurial tendency over time. The results have implications for policy makers who wish to encourage older adults to engage in entrepreneurial activity.

Objectives: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended behavioral measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing and wearing masks. While many individuals comply with these recommendations, compliance has been far from universal. Identifying predictors of compliance is crucial for improving health-behavior messaging and thereby reducing disease spread and fatalities.Method: Here, we report a pre-registered longitudinal study which investigated personality predictors of compliance with CDC recommendations in diverse U.S. adults across five waves from March through August, 2020 (N=596) and cross-sectionally in August, 2020 (N=405). Results: Agreeableness—characterized by compassion—was a strong predictor of compliance, above and beyond other traits and demographic predictors. The effect of agreeableness was robust across two diverse samples, three sets of sensitivity analyses, and was not moderated by time or demographic variables. Conclusions: Individuals who are less agreeable are at high-risk for non-compliance with behavioral mandates, suggesting that health messaging can be meaningfully improved with approaches that address these individuals in particular. Indeed, current health-behavior messaging may be especially misaligned with these individuals, as it has largely focused on appeals to agreeableness (e.g., compassion) by emphasizing the community-protective benefits of slowing the spread of COVID-19. Combining current health-behavior messaging with alternative appeals that are more likely to reach less agreeable individuals may be particularly effective. These findings highlight the strong theoretical and practical utility of testing long-standing psychological theories using rigorous methods during real-world crises.

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of burnout syndrome among nursery teachers in Belgrade's preschool institutions, and to assess the role of personality traits in its development.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in all Belgrade’s preschool institutions. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to obtain a representative sample. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory- General Survey (MBI-GS). The MBI-GS adaptation was based on an internationally accepted methodology for translation and cultural adaptation. Psychometric properties of the Serbian version of the MBI-GS were analyzed through the examination of factorial structure and internal consistency. A shortened version of Big Five Plus Two questionnaire was used to measure Personality traits.ResultsThree hundred two health care professionals were enrolled. The mean age was 38±9.2 years and all were female. Confirmatory factor analysis validated the three-factor structure of the questionnaire (exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy). Overall, 251 (83.1%) respondents were found to have moderate burnout. In multiple regression analysis, positive valence and conscientiousness were significantly associated with professional efficacy. Aggressiveness, neuroticism, openness, and age, were significantly associated with exhaustion. Aggressiveness, neuroticism and additional jobs showed association with cynicism.ConclusionPresent study provided the evidence for the appropriate metric properties of the Serbian version of MBI-GS. Most nurses demonstrated moderate burnout level. Personality traits are characteristics that affect presence of burnout syndrome in healthcare professionals working in preschool institutions.

Reward sensitivity is an increasingly used construct in psychiatry, yet its possible inner structure and relationship with other affective variables are not well known.A reward sensitivity measurement scale was constructed on the basis of large item pool collected from birth cohort representative samples (the Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study; original n = 1238). Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale (ANPS) and the Adult Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale (ASRS) were administered in young adulthood. A variant (rs4570625) of the gene encoding tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) that is responsible for the synthesis of central serotonin was genotyped.Reward sensitivity consisted of two orthogonal components, operationally defined as Openness to Rewards and Insatiability by Reward, that respectively characterise the striving towards multiple rewards and the strong pursuit and fixation to a particular reward. While SEEKING and PLAY (and to lower extent CARE) of the ANPS co-varied with Openness to Rewards, FEAR, SADNESS, and ANGER were related to Insatiability by Reward. The total score of ASRS was moderately correlated with Insatiability by Reward, while the association with Openness to Rewards was negligible. However, ASRS Inattention had some negative relationship with the Social Experience facet of Openness to Rewards. The T/T homozygotes for the TPH2 promoter polymorphism had lower Insatiability by Reward but not Openness to Rewards.Behaviours sensitive to rewards are separable to the components of variability and fixation, and these components are differentially related to affective aspects of personality, attention, and hyperactivity as well as to TPH2 genotype.

BackgroundBeing afraid of others' positive appraisal of oneself is called fear of positive evaluation. Fear of positive evaluation has been studied intensively in the context of social anxiety disorder (SAD). It is not known if individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) fear positive evaluation and which factors are associated with fear of positive evaluation in BPD.MethodsWe applied the fear of positive evaluation scale and further self-report measures (e.g., social phobia inventory, rejection sensitivity questionnaire) to 36 patients with BPD, 29 patients with SAD and 35 healthy controls (HC).ResultsA one-way ANOVA revealed that patients with BPD and patients with SAD reported significantly higher fear of positive evaluation than HC. Patients with BPD and SAD did not differ in their fear of positive evaluation. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed an association between rejection sensitivity and fear of positive evaluation in the BPD sample. However, this association disappeared when controlling for social anxiety.ConclusionOur results indicate that individuals with BPD fear positive evaluation as much as individuals with SAD do, which has implications for clinical practice. Our results further imply that social anxiety is decisive for high fear of positive evaluation in patients with SAD and patients with BPD.

Following the fast spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) across Europe and North America in March 2020, many people started stockpiling commodities like toilet paper. Despite the high relevance for public authorities to adequately address stockpiling behavior, empirical studies on the psychological underpinnings of toilet paper stockpiling are still scarce. In this study, we investigated the relation between personality traits, perceived threat of Covid-19, and stockpiling of toilet paper in an online survey (N = 996) across 22 countries. Results suggest that people who felt more threatened by Covid-19 stockpiled more toilet paper. Further, a predisposition towards Emotionality predicted the perceived threat of Covid-19 and affected stockpiling behavior indirectly. Finally, Conscientiousness was related to toilet paper stockpiling, such that individuals higher in Conscientiousness tended to stockpile more toilet paper. These results emphasize the importance of clear communication by public authorities acknowledging anxiety and, at the same time, transmitting a sense of control.

Schizotypy has been associated with impairment in social cognition (e.g., emotional processing, social perception, Theory of Mind). To our knowledge, no study has investigated these processes in terms of dispositional mindfulness. This study aimed to use network theory to explore the relationship between dispositional mindfulness dimensions and schizotypal traits. Participants were 1572 college students who completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-SF) and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B). We first estimated a Gaussian Graphical Model including the FFMQ-SF and the SPQ-B dimensions. We then computed centrality indices and predictability, and we finally conducted a bootstrapping procedure to assess the accuracy of edge weights and the stability of the centrality indices. Describing was strongly and negatively related to interpersonal schizotypy. Acting with awareness and nonjudgment shared negative edges with interpersonal schizotypy. These results provide potential keys to understand alexithymia, decreased sense of self-agency, and emotion regulation in schizotypy.

Background/objectives: Many personality traits correlate with BMI, but the existence and direction of causal links between them are unclear. If personality influences BMI, knowing this causal direction could inform weight management strategies. Knowing that BMI instead influences personality would contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of personality development and the possible psychological effects of weight change. We tested the existence and direction of causal links between BMI and personality. Subjects/methods: We employed two genetically informed methods. In Mendelian randomization, allele scores were calculated to summarize genetic propensity for the personality traits neuroticism, worry, and depressive affect and used to predict BMI in an independent sample (N = 3 541). Similarly, an allele score for BMI was used to predict eating-specific and domain-general phenotypic personality scores (PPSs; aggregate scores of personality traits weighted by BMI). In a direction of causation (DoC) analysis, twin data from five countries (N = 5424) were used to assess the fit of four alternative models: PPSs influencing BMI, BMI influencing PPSs, reciprocal causation, and no causation. Results: In Mendelian randomization, the allele score for BMI predicted domain-general (β = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.08; P = 0.003) and eating-specific PPS (β = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.09; P < 0.001). The allele score for worry also predicted BMI (β = −0.05; 95% CI: −0.08, −0.02; P < 0.001), while those for neuroticism and depressive affect did not (P ≥ 0.459). In DoC, BMI similarly predicted domain-general (β = 0.21; 95% CI:, 0.18, 0.24; P < 0.001) and eating-specific personality traits (β = 0.19; 95% CI:, 0.16, 0.22; P < 0.001), suggesting causality from BMI to personality traits. In exploratory analyses, links between BMI and domain-general personality traits appeared reciprocal for higher-weight individuals (BMI > ~25). Conclusions: Although both genetic analyses suggested an influence of BMI on personality traits, it is not yet known if weight management interventions could influence personality. Personality traits may influence BMI in turn, but effects in this direction appeared weaker.

The study of psychopathic traits in youth is in its nascent stages and the nature and the structure of these traits is still poorly understood. In one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of the construct validity of the widely used Antisocial Processing Screening Device (APSD), we used two independent samples of youth, one community (N = 2203) and one clinic-referred (N = 534), ages 4 to 19 (51% female), to investigate the external correlates of the Callous-unemotionality (CU), Narcissism, and Impulsivity dimensions of youth psychopathy. We used parent reports of externalizing and internalizing psychopathology, personality, and aggressive behavior to examine the pattern of associations between psychopathic trait dimensions and relevant external correlates. Across both samples, CU was positively related to all forms of externalizing psychopathology and aggression, mostly unrelated to internalizing psychopathology, and negatively related to agreeableness and conscientiousness. Narcissism and Impulsivity were positively related to externalizing psychopathology, and aggression, negatively related to agreeableness and conscientiousness, and weakly positively related to internalizing psychopathology. In most cases, each dimension of the APSD manifested statistically significantly different relations with these external correlates. Many of our findings replicate and extend work conducted with both youth and adults, although others suggest that these dimensions do not distinguish among psychopathological domains in conceptually expected ways. Broadly speaking, these findings provide evidence that psychopathic traits in youth are best characterized by a multidimensional model and bear implications for models integrating normative with pathological personality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with functional dysconnectivity in emotion regulation system. State characteristics which measure the current presence of depressive symptoms, and trait characteristics which indicate the long-term vulnerability to depression are two important features of MDD. However, the relationships between trait and state characteristics of MDD and functional connectivity (FC) within the emotion regulation system still remain unclear. Methods This study aims to examine the neural biological mechanisms of trait characteristics measured by the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale (ANPS) and state anhedonia measured by the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) in MDD. Sixty-three patients with MDD and 63 well-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. A spatial pairwise clustering and the network-based analysis approaches were adopted to identify the abnormal FC networks. Support vector regression was utilized to predict the trait and state characteristics based on abnormal FCs. Results Four disrupted subnetworks mainly involving the prefrontal-limbic-striatum system were observed in MDD. Importantly, the abnormal FC between the left amygdala (AMYG)/hippocampus (HIP) and right AMYG/HIP could predict the SADNESS scores of ANPS (trait characteristics) in MDD. While the aberrant FC between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)/anterior cingulate gyrus (ACC) and AMYG/parahippocampal gyrus could predict the state anhedonia scores (state characteristics). Conclusions The present findings give first insights into the neural biological basis underlying the trait and state characteristics associated with functional dysconnectivity within the emotion regulation system in MDD.

Introduction: Recently, schizotypal personality traits were measured in a multinational sample recruited from 14 countries, however no Scandinavian cohort was included. The aim of this study was, t...

A new algorithmic approach to personality prototyping based on Big Five traits was applied to a large representative and longitudinal German dataset (N = 22,820) including behavior, personality and health correlates. We applied three different clustering techniques, latent profile analysis, the k-means method and spectral clustering algorithms. The resulting cluster centers, i.e. the personality prototypes, were evaluated using a large number of internal and external validity criteria including health, locus of control, self-esteem, impulsivity, risk-taking and wellbeing. The best-fitting prototypical personality profiles were labeled according to their Euclidean distances to averaged personality type profiles identified in a review of previous studies on personality types. This procedure yielded a five-cluster solution: resilient, overcontroller, undercontroller, reserved and vulnerable-resilient. Reliability and construct validity could be confirmed. We discuss wether personality types could comprise a bridge between personality and clinical psychology as well as between developmental psychology and resilience research.

Mindful individuals are able to acknowledge mind wandering and live in the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. Previous studies have found that both mind wandering and mindfulness are associated with subjective well-being. However, the main predictor of happiness is personality; more specifically, happier people are emotionally stable and extraverted. The present study aimed to explore the contribution of the five factors of personality, dispositional mindfulness facets and a mindfulness intervention to happiness. A sample of 372 university students was assessed with the NEO-Five Factor Inventory, and another sample of 217 community adults answered the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire. Both samples, 589 participants in all, completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Subjective Happiness Scale. Furthermore, 55 participants from the general population sample took a 6-week training course in meditation and developing mindfulness. The regression analyses showed that emotional stability and extraversion traits were the strongest predictors of subjective well-being. Nonetheless, the nonjudging facet, which is nonevaluative/acceptance awareness of thoughts and feelings, still remained a significant predictor of happiness when personality was accounted for. Finally, mindfulness training did not increase subjective well-being. Being nonjudgmental of one’s inner thoughts, feelings and sensations contributes to happiness even when personality is taken into account. Accordingly, it seems reasonable that mindfulness training that intends to improve subjective well-being should focus on noticing thoughts without judging them.

Personality traits are relevant in understanding substance use disorders (SUD) and schizophrenia (SZ), but few works have also included patients with dual schizophrenia (SZ+) and personality traits. We explored personality profile in a sample of 165 male patients under treatment, using the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. The participants were assigned to three groups of 55 patients each, according to previous diagnosis: SUD, SZ- and SZ+ (without/with SUD). We analyzed their clinical characteristics, relating them to personality dimensions. The SUD and SZ+ groups scored higher than SZ- in Novelty/Sensation Seeking. SZ- and SZ+ presented higher Harm Avoidance and lower Persistence than the SUD group. SZ+ patients showed the lowest levels of Self-directedness, while SZ- and SZ+ had higher scores in Self-transcendence than the SUD group. Several clinical characteristics were associated with personality dimensions depending on diagnosis, and remarkably so for psychiatric symptoms in the SZ- and SZ+ groups. The three groups had a maladaptive personality profile compared to general population. Our results point to different profiles for SUD versus SZ, while both profiles appear combined in the SZ+ group, with extreme scores in some traits. Thus, considering personality endophenotypes in SZ+ could help in designing individualized interventions for this group.

Critical care staff are frequently required to respond to stressful scenarios. The way staff counter organisational challenge may be influenced by their underlying personality type, preferred style of cognitive processing and previous clinical experience. Our objective was to explore the personality types of a sample of critical care workers, and the potential relationship of this with cognitive processing. This was achieved through a qualitative interview study in which participants were presented with difficult but realistic scenarios pertaining to staffing. Data on individual's personality were captured using the '16 Personality Factor' assessment, a tool that produces scores for 16 different elements of an individual's personality. The existence of perfectionist and pragmatic cognitive processing styles were identified as one theme emerging from a prior analysis of these interview transcripts. We aimed to validate this, explore our ability to categorise individuals into groups based upon their cognitive processing. We identified that some individuals strongly tended to either a perfectionist or pragmatic style of cognitive processing for the majority of their decisions; however most adapted their style of processing according to the nature of the decision. Overall participants generally demonstrated average scores for all 16 personality factors tested. However, we observed that some factors tended to higher scores than others, indicating a pattern within the personalities of our sample cohort. Whilst a small sample size, our data suggests that individuals working within the same critical care environment may have clear differences in their approach to problem solving as a consequence of both their personality type and preferred style of cognitive processing. Thus there may be individuals within this environment who would benefit from increased support to minimise their risk of cognitive dissonance and stress in times of challenge.