Relationship between Circadian Typology and Big Five Personality Domains

We explored the relationship between personality, based on the five‐factor model, and circadian preference. To this end, 503 participants (280 females, 223 males) were administered the Morningness‐Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the self‐report version of the Big Five Observer (BFO) to determine circadian preference and personality features, respectively. Morning types scored significantly higher than evening and intermediate types on the conscientiousness factor. Evening types were found to be more neurotic than morning types. With reference to the big five personality model, our data, together with those of all the previous studies, indicate that the conscientiousness domain is the one that best discriminates among the three circadian types. Results are discussed with reference to neurobiological models of personality.     

Personality correlates with sleep-wake variables

A mail-in questionnaire study and two confirmatory archival analyses are described. Variables related to personality and measures of sleep timing, sleep quality, and sleep duration were initially assessed by self-report in a sample of 54 working adults (31.5% male, 23-48 yrs). Extraversion and neuroticism were measured by the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and the level of sub-clinical manic-type symptoms by the Attitude to Life Questionnaire (ATLQ). The quality of sleep was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and by questions relating to habitual sleep latency and minutes awake after sleep onset from the Sleep Timing Questionnaire (STQ). The duration and timing of sleep was assessed using the STQ separately for work-week nights (Sunday-Thursday) and for weekend nights (Friday and Saturday). Morningness-eveningness was assessed using the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM). Two confirmatory analyses using separate archival samples (Study A: n=201, 55.7% male, 20-57 yrs; Study B: n=101, 47.5% male, 18-59 yrs) were then used to confirm specific correlations of interest. In both initial and confirmatory studies, increased sub-clinical manic-type symptoms were found to be significantly associated with later bedtimes and wake-times during the work-week and lower (more evening-type) CSM scores, and higher neuroticism was associated with poorer sleep as indicated by higher PSQI scores. In contrast, no significant correlations emerged between any of the personality variables and any of the sleep duration variables. Personality appears to affect certain aspects of the timing and subjective quality of sleep, but not necessarily its duration.     

大学生人格特征与社交焦虑的相关研究

目的:探讨大学生人格特征与社交焦虑的关系,为高校大学生心理教育工作提供理论依据.方法:采用分层整群抽样的方法,对1600名大学生进行心理测评,测评工具包括社交焦虑量表(IAS)和艾森克人格问卷(EPQ).结果:本研究发现,高社交焦虑的大学生为370人,占总体被试的25.6%;女大学生社交焦虑水平高于男大学生,农村、矿区的学生其社交焦虑水平高于城镇学生;逐步多元回归结果发现,内外向、神经质为社交焦虑的有效预测因素,联合解释变异量为23.7%.结论:高社交焦虑的大学生占总体调查人数的25.6%;人格特征、性别、家庭住址是社交焦虑的影响因素;应加强大学生健康个性的培养及社交焦虑的相关干预.     

Fatty acid correlates of temperament in adolescent boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Atypical fatty acid metabolism has been reported in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however, its relationship with temperament in this population is unclear. The current study investigated the association between blood levels of fatty acids implicated in brain structure and function (omega-3, omega-6, omega-9) and personality traits of stability (neuroticism, conscientiousness and agreeableness) and plasticity (extraversion and openness). Twenty right-handed adolescent boys with ADHD completed a self-report NEO-FFI personality questionnaire, and had fatty acid content assessed from red blood using gas chromatography. Pearson's correlations showed no significant associations between omega-3 levels and personality. After correction for multiple comparisons, Adrenic Acid (C22:4n6) was inversely associated with stability. Oleic acid (C18:1n9) was positively associated with plasticity. Results are in line with a role of fatty acids in brain function. They suggest that those fatty acids that are involved in myelination (Adrenic, Oleic) have the strongest associations with temperament in adolescents with ADHD.