Higher conscientiousness was associated with more nocturnal blood pressure dipping and an approximately 40% reduced risk of reverse dipping (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.08-1.91).
Cohort (n=2,848)
Do specific personality traits predict nighttime blood pressure dipping patterns in adults?
Personality traits such as conscientiousness and agreeableness are associated with healthier nocturnal blood pressure dipping patterns, whereas impulsivity and antagonism are linked to non-dipping.
Odds Ratio: 1.43 (95% CI 1.08–1.91)
p-value: p=<.001
OBJECTIVE: A nighttime dip in blood pressure is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We examined whether personality traits predict nighttime dipping blood pressure. METHODS: A community-based sample of 2848 adults from Sardinia (Italy) completed the Revised NEO Personality Inventory and 7 years later were examined with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The primary analyses examined the associations of personality traits with continuous and categorical measures of mean arterial, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure nighttime dipping. RESULTS: Agreeableness and conscientiousness were associated with more nocturnal blood pressure dipping (β = .05 p = .025 and β = .07 p < .001, respectively) and lower systolic blood pressure at night (β = -.05 p = .018 and β = -.03 p = .072, respectively). Nondippers were particularly more impulsive (p = .009), less trusting (p = .004), and less self-disciplined (p = .001), but there was no significant association between nocturnal dipping blood pressure and trait anxiety (p = .78) or depression (p = .59). The associations were stronger when comparing extreme dippers (nighttime drop ≥ 20%) to reverse dippers (nighttime increase in blood pressure). Indeed, scoring 1 standard deviation higher on conscientiousness was associated with approximately 40% reduced risk of reverse dipping (odds ratio = 1.43, confidence interval = 1.08-1.91). CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence that reduced nighttime blood pressure dipping is associated with antagonism and impulsivity-related traits but not with measures of emotional vulnerability. The strongest associations were found with conscientiousness, a trait that may have a broad impact on cardiovascular health.
Terracciano et al. (Sat,) conducted a cohort in Circadian blood pressure patterns (n=2,848). Personality traits (e.g., conscientiousness, agreeableness) vs. Lower levels of respective personality traits was evaluated on Continuous and categorical measures of mean arterial, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure nighttime dipping (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.08-1.91, p=<.001). Higher conscientiousness was associated with more nocturnal blood pressure dipping and an approximately 40% reduced risk of reverse dipping (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.08-1.91).