Psychological personality traits in healthy people with various types of fat tissue distribution

Abstract

Aim. To investigate psychological personality traits in relatively healthy people with various types of fat tissue distribution. Material and methods. The study included 482 clinically healthy males and females. Participants were divided into six groups, by gender and fat tissue distribution (identified by measuring waist/hips circumference index, WHI): intermediate, gynoid, and abdominal fat tissue distribution in males and females. Psychological personality traits were assessed by SMOL questionnaire (short form of Multiphasic Personality Inventory). Results. In women, the most unfavorable psychological profile was observed for abdominal type of fat tissue distribution. This group demonstrated symptoms of hypochondria, depression, and neuroses. This type of fat tissue distribution might be a predictor of future cardiovascular disease. Similar psychological traits were observed in men with abdominal fat tissue distribution. Nevertheless, men tended to resist high anxiety level by developing effective psychological adaptation mechanisms (p<0.01). Conclusion. Psychological correction methods can be useful in primary prevention of cardiovascular events among clinically healthy women with abdominal fat tissue distribution and increased arterial hypertension risk.

Keywords

• healthy individuals
• fat tissue distribution
• personality traits
• arterial hypertension
• prevention