Key result
Higher conscientiousness was associated with a lower likelihood of abnormal total cholesterol (OR 0.982), while high neuroticism correlated with low HDL cholesterol in young Korean women.
Why the study?
Are personality traits associated with blood lipid levels in young Korean women?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,701)
No
Are personality traits associated with blood lipid levels in young Korean women?
Odds Ratio: 0.982 (95% CI 0.968–0.997)
p-value: p=<0.05
In young Korean women, specific personality traits such as high neuroticism and low extraversion/openness are associated with unfavorable lipid profiles, suggesting psychological factors may play a role in dyslipidemia risk.
Personality-lipid links in young Korean women are hypothesis-generating; prospective studies needed before clinical relevance.
Abnormal lipid levels are important etiological factors associated with the development of atherosclerosis and with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Lipid levels are also influenced by lifestyle and behavioral factors, which suggests that personality traits might be related to abnormal lipid profiles. Studies on personality traits and lipid levels are relatively scarce in Korea. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the association between lipid levels and personality traits in young Korean women. A total of 1,701 young Korean women [mean age = 24.9±4.6 years (range 17-39)] who volunteered for personality trait evaluation were recruited for this study. Lipid levels, including total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride, were measured in all subjects after an overnight fast, and a low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was calculated. The study population was divided into abnormal and normal lipid level groups according to the clinical criteria. Personality traits were measured using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory for the Five-Factor Model of personality. High neuroticism was associated with low HDL cholesterol levels. Low extraversion and openness were associated with high levels of triglyceride. At the facet level, the association between personality and lipid levels were generally consistent. Angry hostility, self-consciousness, vulnerability to stress, activity, and straightforwardness were associated with HDL cholesterol levels. Activity, positive emotion, aesthetics, actions, and deliberation were associated with triglyceride. When applying clinical criteria, conscientiousness was less likely to have abnormal total cholesterol levels. Our results showed that the women with the low HDL cholesterol levels are like to be more neurotic and the hyperglycemic women are prone to lower extraversion and openness in Korea. Understanding the associations between blood lipid levels and personality traits may have a beneficial effect for the managing of dyslipidemia.
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Roh et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Dyslipidemia (n=1,701). Personality traits (Five-Factor Model) vs. Lower levels of respective personality traits was evaluated on Abnormal total cholesterol levels (≥ 200 mg/dL) (OR 0.982, 95% CI 0.968-0.997, p=<0.05). Higher conscientiousness was associated with a lower likelihood of abnormal total cholesterol (OR 0.982), while high neuroticism correlated with low HDL cholesterol in young Korean women.
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