Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 1 Personality

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

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 4 Methodology, 2  Trait correlations v. mediating researc h:  “ 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 SES.

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 5 Methods, 3  Core potential circularity in personality explanations:  Behavioral consistency is basis for trait ascription, and then 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

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

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 8 Biologically based models  Approach v. avoidance  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 (?)

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

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

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

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 13 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, self- esteem… Differentiation from clinical depression?  Threshold for Rx v. chronic state  Differentiation of NA from PA (?)

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 14 Personality constructs  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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 15 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.] 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. 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 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

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

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

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 19 Grande

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

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

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

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 24  Affective (emotion-focused) v. instrumental (problem- 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 models, 1 Coping behaviorApproach motiveAvoidance motive Seek social support Instrumental assistance Emotional support Distraction, Emotional solace Information seeking Problem solving Downward comparisons Religious or spiritual Restore resolve Emotional support Fatalism Avoidance

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 26 Coping models, 3  Cognitive escape v. self-awareness / self- monitoring  “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 (?) Driven by, e.g., Low self-efficacy / generalized self-esteem High negative affectivity High impulsivity (?)

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

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

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 30 Personality  coping styles

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 31 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  Optimism not associated with approach coping Not trauma

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

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 34 Personality effects: moderating & mediating variables  Taylor: simultaneous mediating & moderating effects 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. 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.

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

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 36 Some general notes on personality approaches  Utility to translate into more practical applications.  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.

Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior Personality, , 37 Notes, 2  Important aspect of addiction research in general is 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.,  Internet  Sex  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? Pinball?

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