Search results

Title: Visual Perspective and Genetics: A Commentary on Lemogne and Colleagues.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina
Abstract/Description: Lemogne and colleagues offer an interesting extension to their previous work on visual perspective and depression: Individuals at-risk for depression (defined as higher scores on Harm Avoidance), without a history of mood disorders, report retrieval of positive memories from the 3rd person perspective. Their findings suggest that the retrieval of positive experiences from the 3rd person perspective may be a risk-factor for depression, not just a lingering consequence of it. Their study,...
Show moreLemogne and colleagues offer an interesting extension to their previous work on visual perspective and depression: Individuals at-risk for depression (defined as higher scores on Harm Avoidance), without a history of mood disorders, report retrieval of positive memories from the 3rd person perspective. Their findings suggest that the retrieval of positive experiences from the 3rd person perspective may be a risk-factor for depression, not just a lingering consequence of it. Their study, however, also reports a genetic association in a severely underpowered sample. Rather than focusing on gene x environment interactions, which large, well-powered studies on related phenotypes have failed to detect, a greater understanding of the phenomenology of visual perspective may be a more fruitful avenue for future research.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0032, 10.1016/j.concog.2009.05.002
Format: Citation

Title: Sex Differences in Resting-State Neural Correlates of Openness to Experience Among Older Adults.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Beason-Held, Lori, Resnick, Susan M., Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: We investigated sex differences in the resting-state neural correlates of Openness to Experience, a universal personality trait defined by cognitive flexibility, attention to feelings, creativity, and preference for novelty. Using resting-state positron-emission tomography from 100 older individuals (>55 years of age), we identified associations between Openness and resting-state regional cerebral blood flow that replicated across 2 assessments of the same sample, approximately 2 years apart....
Show moreWe investigated sex differences in the resting-state neural correlates of Openness to Experience, a universal personality trait defined by cognitive flexibility, attention to feelings, creativity, and preference for novelty. Using resting-state positron-emission tomography from 100 older individuals (>55 years of age), we identified associations between Openness and resting-state regional cerebral blood flow that replicated across 2 assessments of the same sample, approximately 2 years apart. Openness correlated positively with prefrontal activity in women, anterior cingulate activity in men, and orbitofrontal activity in both sexes, which suggests that areas linked to cognitive flexibility (women), monitoring processes (men), and reward and emotional processing (both) underlie individual differences in Openness. The results challenge the implicit assumption that the same trait will rely on the same neural mechanisms across all who express it.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0031, 10.1093/cercor/bhp066
Format: Citation

Title: Trait Antagonism and the Progression of Arterial Thickening: Women with Antagonistic Traits Have Similar Carotid Arterial Thickness as Men.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Scuteri, Angelo, Lakatta, Edward, Tarasov, Kirill, Ferrucci, Luigi, Costa, Paul, Schlessinger, David, Uda, Manuela, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: A large body of evidence links antagonism-related traits with cardiovascular outcomes, but less is known about how psychological traits are associated with intermediate markers of cardiovascular disease. Using a large, community-based sample from Sardinia, Italy (n=5614), this study examined how trait antagonism (low agreeableness) and its facets are associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness, a measure of arterial thickening. Controlling for demographic and cardiovascular risk...
Show moreA large body of evidence links antagonism-related traits with cardiovascular outcomes, but less is known about how psychological traits are associated with intermediate markers of cardiovascular disease. Using a large, community-based sample from Sardinia, Italy (n=5614), this study examined how trait antagonism (low agreeableness) and its facets are associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness, a measure of arterial thickening. Controlling for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, low agreeableness and, in particular, low straightforwardness and low compliance, were associated with greater carotid thickening, measured concurrently and prospectively, and with increases in intima-media thickness over 3 years. Indeed, those in the bottom 10% of agreeableness had a 40% increase in risk for elevated intima-media thickness. Although men have thicker arterial walls, women with antagonistic traits had similar carotid thickening as antagonistic men. Antagonistic individuals, especially those who are manipulative and aggressive, have greater increases in arterial thickening, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0022, 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.110.155317
Format: Citation

Title: Trait Dissociation and the Subjective Affective, Motivational, and Phenomenological Experience of Self-Defining Memories.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Stockdale, Gary
Abstract/Description: The present research reports 2 studies that examine the relation between nonpathological trait dissociation and the subjective affect, motivation, and phenomenology of self-defining memories. In Study 1 (N=293), participants retrieved and rated the emotional and motivational experience of a general and a positive and negative achievement-related memory. Study 2 (N=449) extended these ratings to relationship-related memories and the phenomenological experience of the memory. Dissociation was...
Show moreThe present research reports 2 studies that examine the relation between nonpathological trait dissociation and the subjective affect, motivation, and phenomenology of self-defining memories. In Study 1 (N=293), participants retrieved and rated the emotional and motivational experience of a general and a positive and negative achievement-related memory. Study 2 (N=449) extended these ratings to relationship-related memories and the phenomenological experience of the memory. Dissociation was associated with incongruent affect in valenced memories (e.g., positive affect in a negative memory) and memories that were visually incoherent and saturated with power motivation, hubristic pride, and shame, regardless of valence or domain. The present findings demonstrate that autobiographical memories, which integrate emotional, motivational, and phenomenological components, reflect the emotional and motivational processes inherent to dissociation.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0017, 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00708.x
Format: Citation

Title: The personality domains and styles of the five-factor model are related to incident depression in Medicare recipients aged 65 to 100.
Creator: Weiss, Alexander, Sutin, Angelina, Duberstein, Paul Raphael, Friedman, Bruce, Bagby, R. Michael, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: OBJECTIVES: Few prospective studies have examined personality and depression in older adults. The authors investigated whether the Five-Factor Model of personality traits-Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness-and trait combinations (styles) are related to incident major or minor depression. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Prospective data were gathered on a community sample of 512 older adults with disability and a history of significant health care...
Show moreOBJECTIVES: Few prospective studies have examined personality and depression in older adults. The authors investigated whether the Five-Factor Model of personality traits-Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness-and trait combinations (styles) are related to incident major or minor depression. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Prospective data were gathered on a community sample of 512 older adults with disability and a history of significant health care utilization who were enrolled in a Medicare Demonstration Project. MEASUREMENTS: Depression and personality traits and styles were assessed at baseline; depression was assessed again at approximately 12 and 22 months. DESIGN: Participants who developed incident major depression were compared with those free of depression at all three assessments. Similar analyses were done for minor depression. RESULTS: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were risk factors for both major and minor depression. Combinations of high Neuroticism with low or high Extraversion or high Openness conferred risk for major depression. Other novel findings for major depression revealed new trait combinations of low Conscientiousness with low or high Extraversion, high Openness, or low Agreeableness. Three trait combinations, all involving low Conscientiousness, predicted risk for minor depression: high Neuroticism, high Agreeableness, and low Openness. CONCLUSION: The present findings highlight the importance of examining combinations of personality traits or personality styles when identifying those who are most at-risk for geriatric depression. Since other personality domains may modify the risk related to high Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness, the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression could be greatly improved by assessing older patients not only on all five domains of personality but in terms of their combinations.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0035
Format: Citation

Title: Weight discrimination and unhealthy eating-related behaviors.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Robinson, Eric, Daly, Michael, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: Individuals with obesity often experience unfair treatment because of their body weight. Such experiences are associated with binge eating, but less is known about its association with other eating-related behaviors and whether these relations are specific to discrimination based on weight or extend to other attributions for discrimination. The present research uses a large national sample (N = 5129) to examine whether weight discrimination is associated with diet and meal rhythmicity, in...
Show moreIndividuals with obesity often experience unfair treatment because of their body weight. Such experiences are associated with binge eating, but less is known about its association with other eating-related behaviors and whether these relations are specific to discrimination based on weight or extend to other attributions for discrimination. The present research uses a large national sample (N = 5129) to examine whether weight discrimination is associated with diet and meal rhythmicity, in addition to overeating, and whether these associations generalize to nine other attributions for discrimination. We found that in addition to overeating, weight discrimination was associated with more frequent consumption of convenience foods and less regular meal timing. These associations were generally similar across sex, age, and race. Discrimination based on ancestry, gender, age, religion, and physical disability were also associated with overeating, which suggests that overeating may be a general coping response to discrimination. Unfair treatment because of body weight is associated with unhealthy eating-related behaviors, which may be one pathway through which weight discrimination increases risk for weight gain and obesity.
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Date Issued: 2016-07-01
Identifier: FSU_pmch_26877216, 10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.016, PMC4866877, 26877216, 26877216, S0195-6663(16)30051-4
Format: Citation

Title: Depressive Symptoms Are Associated with Weight Gain Among Women.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Zonderman, Alan
Abstract/Description: BACKGROUND: Many studies have linked depression and obesity; few have more than two assessments of depressive symptoms and adiposity to address the potential bidirectional relationship between adiposity and depressive symptoms from young adulthood through old age. We tested whether baseline depressive symptoms are associated with changes in weight, whether baseline adiposity is associated with changes in depressive symptoms, and whether these associations vary by sex.MethodParticipants (n...
Show moreBACKGROUND: Many studies have linked depression and obesity; few have more than two assessments of depressive symptoms and adiposity to address the potential bidirectional relationship between adiposity and depressive symptoms from young adulthood through old age. We tested whether baseline depressive symptoms are associated with changes in weight, whether baseline adiposity is associated with changes in depressive symptoms, and whether these associations vary by sex.MethodParticipants (n=2251; 47% female) were from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) on 30 years of data, the trajectory of adiposity and depressive symptoms over adulthood was estimated from >10 000 observations (mean=4.5 assessments per participant) of body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), waist circumference and hip circumference and >10 000 observations (mean=4.5 assessments per participant) of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Baseline depressive symptoms and adiposity were then tested as predictors of the trajectory of adiposity and depressive symptoms respectively. Additional analyses tested for sex-specific associations. RESULTS: Sex moderated the association between depressive symptoms and weight gain such that women who experienced depressed affect had greater increases in BMI (binteraction=0.12, s.e.=0.04), waist (binteraction=0.22, s.e.=0.10) and hip circumference (binteraction=0.20, s.e.=0.07) across the adult lifespan, controlling for relevant demographic and behavioral covariates. Baseline adiposity was unrelated to the trajectory of depressive symptoms (median b=0.00) for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Women who experience symptoms of depression tend to gain more weight across adulthood than men who experience such symptoms. Whether an individual was normal weight or overweight was unrelated to changes in depressive symptoms across adulthood.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0012, 10.1017/S0033291712000566
Format: Citation

Title: Correlates and Phenomenology of First and Third Person Memories.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Robins, Richard W.
Abstract/Description: The present research addressed fundamental questions about the visual perspective of autobiographical memories: Are stable personality characteristics associated with visual perspective? Does visual perspective influence the memory's phenomenological qualities? Participants in Study 1 (N=1684) completed individual-difference measures and indicated the perspective from which they generally retrieve memories. Participants in Study 2 (N=706) retrieved a memory from their natural or manipulated...
Show moreThe present research addressed fundamental questions about the visual perspective of autobiographical memories: Are stable personality characteristics associated with visual perspective? Does visual perspective influence the memory's phenomenological qualities? Participants in Study 1 (N=1684) completed individual-difference measures and indicated the perspective from which they generally retrieve memories. Participants in Study 2 (N=706) retrieved a memory from their natural or manipulated perspective, rated its phenomenology, and completed the same individual-difference measures. Dissociation and anxiety were associated with third person retrieval style; the Big Five personality traits were primarily unrelated to perspective. Compared to third person memories, naturally occurring first person memories were higher on Vividness, Coherence, Accessibility, Sensory Detail, Emotional Intensity, and Time Perspective, and lower on Distancing; manipulating perspective eliminated these differences. Visual perspective is associated with clinically relevant constructs and, although associated with the memory's phenomenology, perspective does not shape it.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0025, 10.1080/09658211.2010.497765
Format: Citation

Title: BDNF Val66Met is Associated with Introversion and Interacts with 5-HTTLPR to Influence Neuroticism.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Tanaka, Toshiko, Sutin, Angelina, Deiana, Barbara, Balaci, Lenuta, Sanna, Serena, Olla, Nazario, Maschio, Andrea, Uda, Manuela, Ferrucci, Luigi,...
Show moreTerracciano, Antonio, Tanaka, Toshiko, Sutin, Angelina, Deiana, Barbara, Balaci, Lenuta, Sanna, Serena, Olla, Nazario, Maschio, Andrea, Uda, Manuela, Ferrucci, Luigi, Schlessinger, David, Costa, Paul
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Abstract/Description: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission, and has been linked to neuroticism, a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders. A recent genome-wide association (GWA) scan, however, found the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) associated with extraversion but not with neuroticism. In this study, we examine the links between BDNF and personality traits, assessed using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), in a sample from SardiNIA ...
Show moreBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission, and has been linked to neuroticism, a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders. A recent genome-wide association (GWA) scan, however, found the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) associated with extraversion but not with neuroticism. In this study, we examine the links between BDNF and personality traits, assessed using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), in a sample from SardiNIA (n=1560) and the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA; n=1131). Consistent with GWA results, we found that BDNF Met carriers were more introverted. By contrast, in both samples and in a meta-analysis inclusive of published data (n=15251), we found no evidence for a main effect of BDNF Val66Met on neuroticism. Finally, on the basis of recent reports of an epistatic effect between BDNF and the serotonin transporter, we explored a Val66Met x 5-HTTLPR interaction in a larger SardiNIA sample (n=2333). We found that 5-HTTLPR LL carriers scored lower on neuroticism in the presence of the BDNF Val variant, but scored higher on neuroticism in the presence of the BDNF Met variant. Our findings support the association between the BDNF Met variant and introversion and suggest that BDNF interacts with the serotonin transporter gene to influence neuroticism.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0029, 10.1038/npp.2009.213
Format: Citation

Title: Autobiographical Memory Phenomenology and Content Mediate Attachment Style and Psychological Distress.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Gillath, Omri
Abstract/Description: In two studies, the present research tested the phenomenology and content of autobiographical memory as distinct mediators between attachment avoidance and anxiety and depressive symptoms. In Study 1, participants (N = 454) completed measures of attachment and depressive symptoms in one session, and retrieved and rated two self-defining memories of romantic relationships in a separate session. In Study 2, participants (N = 534) were primed with attachment security, attachment insecurity, or a...
Show moreIn two studies, the present research tested the phenomenology and content of autobiographical memory as distinct mediators between attachment avoidance and anxiety and depressive symptoms. In Study 1, participants (N = 454) completed measures of attachment and depressive symptoms in one session, and retrieved and rated two self-defining memories of romantic relationships in a separate session. In Study 2, participants (N = 534) were primed with attachment security, attachment insecurity, or a control prime and then retrieved and rated a self-defining relationship memory. Memory phenomenology, specifically memory coherence and emotional intensity, mediated the association between attachment avoidance and depressive symptoms, whereas the negative affective content of the memory mediated the association between attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms. Priming attachment security led to retrieval of a more coherent relationship memory, whereas insecurity led to the retrieval of a more incoherent relationship memory. Discussion focuses on the construction and recollection of memories as underlying mechanisms of adult attachment and psychological distress, the importance of memory coherence, and the implications for counseling research and practice.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0034
Format: Citation

Title: Autobiographical Memory and Psychological Distress in a Sample of Upper-Limb Amputees.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Luchetti, Martina, Montebarocci, Ornella, Rossi, Nicolino, Cutti, Andrea G.
Abstract/Description: Amputation is a traumatic and life-changing event that can take years to adjust to. The present study (a) examines psychological adjustment in a specific trauma-exposed sample, (b) compares the phenomenology (e.g., vividness) of amputation-related memories to more recent memories, and (c) tests whether memory phenomenology is associated with psychological distress. A total of 24 upper-limb amputees recalled two autobiographical memories–an amputation-related memory and a recent memory–and...
Show moreAmputation is a traumatic and life-changing event that can take years to adjust to. The present study (a) examines psychological adjustment in a specific trauma-exposed sample, (b) compares the phenomenology (e.g., vividness) of amputation-related memories to more recent memories, and (c) tests whether memory phenomenology is associated with psychological distress. A total of 24 upper-limb amputees recalled two autobiographical memories–an amputation-related memory and a recent memory–and rated the phenomenological qualities of each memory, including Vividness, Coherence, Emotional Intensity, Visual Perspective, and Distancing. Participants also completed self-rated measures of psychological distress and personality. The sample was generally well adjusted; participants showed no relevant symptoms of anxiety and depression, and personality scores were similar to the general population. There were no significant differences in phenomenology between the two types of memories recalled. Even though amputation-related memories were, on average, almost 20 years older than the recent memories, they retained their intense phenomenology. Despite the intensity of the memory, none of the phenomenological dimensions were associated with psychological distress. It is worth to further define which dimensions of phenomenology characterize memories of traumatic events, and their association with individuals' psychological reactions.
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Date Issued: 2014-06-12
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1475156849, 10.1371/journal.pone.0099803
Format: Citation

Title: The Effect of Birth Cohort on Well-Being: The Legacy of Economic Hard Times.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Milaneschi, Yuri, An, Yang, Ferrucci, Luigi, Zonderman, Alan
Abstract/Description: In the present research, we examined the effects of age, cohort, and time of measurement on well-being across adulthood. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of two independent samples-one with more than 10,000 repeated assessments across 30 years (mean assessments per participant = 4.44, SD = 3.47) and one with nationally representative data-suggested that well-being declines with age. This decline, however, reversed when we controlled for birth cohort. That is, once we accounted for...
Show moreIn the present research, we examined the effects of age, cohort, and time of measurement on well-being across adulthood. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of two independent samples-one with more than 10,000 repeated assessments across 30 years (mean assessments per participant = 4.44, SD = 3.47) and one with nationally representative data-suggested that well-being declines with age. This decline, however, reversed when we controlled for birth cohort. That is, once we accounted for the fact that older cohorts had lower levels of well-being, all cohorts increased in well-being with age relative to their own baseline. Participants tested more recently had higher well-being, but time of measurement, unlike cohort, did not change the shape of the trajectory. Although well-being increased with age for everyone, cohorts that lived through the economic challenges of the early 20th century had lower well-being than those born during more prosperous times.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0010, 10.1177/0956797612459658
Format: Citation

Title: Reciprocal Influences of Personality and Job Characteristics Across Middle Adulthood.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: The present research uses an economically diverse, middle-aged sample to examine the concurrent and longitudinal interplay between personality and occupational experiences. Using the Five-Factor Model of personality and the Demand-Control Model of the occupational environment as guiding frameworks, participants (N=722) reported on their personality, job characteristics, and occupational history; a subset (n=297) made the same ratings approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently,...
Show moreThe present research uses an economically diverse, middle-aged sample to examine the concurrent and longitudinal interplay between personality and occupational experiences. Using the Five-Factor Model of personality and the Demand-Control Model of the occupational environment as guiding frameworks, participants (N=722) reported on their personality, job characteristics, and occupational history; a subset (n=297) made the same ratings approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently, emotionally stable, extraverted, open, and conscientious participants reported jobs with greater decision-making latitude, whereas disagreeable participants had more physically demanding and dangerous jobs. Longitudinal cross-lagged analyses revealed that personality was associated with changes in decision latitude, hazardous working conditions, and physical demands. None of the job characteristics predicted change in personality at the factor level. Thus, personality shaped occupational experiences, but occupational experiences had minimal impact on personality. Support for the Five-Factor Theory perspective and implications for environmental approaches to personality development are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0030, 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00615.x
Format: Citation

Title: Teeth Grinding: Is Emotional Stability Related to Bruxism?.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Ferrucci, Luigi, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: This study examines the association between personality traits and bruxism, the repetitive grinding or clenching of teeth. Community-dwelling participants (N = 470) had a comprehensive oral examination by a dentist and completed a dental history and personality questionnaires. Consistent with the literature on state anxiety and depression as antecedents of bruxism, Neuroticism-related traits were associated with self-reported teeth grinding. These traits were also associated with other oral...
Show moreThis study examines the association between personality traits and bruxism, the repetitive grinding or clenching of teeth. Community-dwelling participants (N = 470) had a comprehensive oral examination by a dentist and completed a dental history and personality questionnaires. Consistent with the literature on state anxiety and depression as antecedents of bruxism, Neuroticism-related traits were associated with self-reported teeth grinding. These traits were also associated with other oral complaints often associated with anxiety (jaw clicks, difficulty chewing food, and dry mouth), but not with more general oral health complaints (unhealthy gums, bleeding gums, and canker sores) or with dentist-assessed occlusal wear or tongue indentations. This study provides evidence for the association between Neuroticism and bruxism and other stress-related oral health symptoms.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0027, 10.1016/j.jrp.2010.03.006
Format: Citation

Title: Perceived weight discrimination mediates the prospective relation between obesity and depressive symptoms in U.S. and U.K. adults.
Creator: Robinson, Eric, Sutin, Angelina, Daly, Michael
Abstract/Description: Obesity has been shown to increase risk of depression. Persons with obesity experience discrimination because of their body weight. Across 3 studies, we tested for the first time whether experiencing (perceived) weight-based discrimination explains why obesity is prospectively associated with increases in depressive symptoms. Data from 3 studies, including the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2008/2009-2012/2013), the Health and Retirement Study (2006/2008-2010/2012), and Midlife in the...
Show moreObesity has been shown to increase risk of depression. Persons with obesity experience discrimination because of their body weight. Across 3 studies, we tested for the first time whether experiencing (perceived) weight-based discrimination explains why obesity is prospectively associated with increases in depressive symptoms. Data from 3 studies, including the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2008/2009-2012/2013), the Health and Retirement Study (2006/2008-2010/2012), and Midlife in the United States (1995/1996-2004/2005), were used to examine associations between obesity, perceived weight discrimination, and depressive symptoms among 20,286 U.S. and U.K. adults. Across all 3 studies, Class II and III obesity were reliably associated with increases in depressive symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Perceived weight-based discrimination predicted increases in depressive symptoms over time and mediated the prospective association between obesity and depressive symptoms in all 3 studies. Persons with Class II and III obesity were more likely to report experiencing weight-based discrimination, and this explained approximately 31% of the obesity-related increase in depressive symptoms on average across the 3 studies. In U.S. and U.K. samples, the prospective association between obesity (defined using body mass index) and increases in depressive symptoms in adulthood may in part be explained by perceived weight discrimination. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Date Issued: 2017-02-01
Identifier: FSU_pmch_27748611, 10.1037/hea0000426, PMC5267562, 27748611, 27748611, 2016-49908-001
Format: Citation

Title: Abandoning the Dead Donor Rule?: A National Survey of Public Views on Death and Organ Donation.
Creator: Nair-Collins, Michael, Green, Sydney, Sutin, Angelina
Abstract/Description: Brain dead organ donors are the principal source of transplantable organs. However, it is controversial whether brain death is the same as biological death. Therefore, it is unclear whether organ removal in brain death is consistent with the 'dead donor rule', which states that organ removal must not cause death. Our aim was to evaluate the public's opinion about organ removal if explicitly described as causing the death of a donor in irreversible apneic coma. We conducted a cross-sectional...
Show moreBrain dead organ donors are the principal source of transplantable organs. However, it is controversial whether brain death is the same as biological death. Therefore, it is unclear whether organ removal in brain death is consistent with the 'dead donor rule', which states that organ removal must not cause death. Our aim was to evaluate the public's opinion about organ removal if explicitly described as causing the death of a donor in irreversible apneic coma. We conducted a cross-sectional internet survey of the American public (n=1096). Questionnaire domains included opinions about a hypothetical scenario of organ removal described as causing the death of a patient in irreversible coma, and items measuring willingness to donate organs after death. Some 71% of the sample agreed that it should be legal for patients to donate organs in the scenario described and 67% agreed that they would want to donate organs in a similar situation. Of the 85% of the sample who agreed that they were willing to donate organs after death, 76% agreed that they would donate in the scenario of irreversible coma with organ removal causing death. There appears to be public support for organ donation in a scenario explicitly described as violating the dead donor rule. Further, most but not all people who would agree to donate when organ removal is described as occurring after death would also agree to donate when organ removal is described as causing death in irreversible coma.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0040, 10.1136/medethics-2014-102229
Format: Citation

Title: Facets of Personality Linked to Underweight and Overweight.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Sutin, Angelina, McCrae, Robert R., Deiana, Barbara, Ferrucci, Luigi, Schlessinger, David, Uda, Manuela, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: OBJECTIVE: Personality traits underlie maladaptive behaviors, and cognitive and emotional disturbances that contribute to major preventable causes of global disease burden. This study examines detailed personality profiles of underweight, normal, and overweight individuals to provide insights into the causes and treatments of abnormal weight. METHODS: More than half of the population from four towns in Sardinia, Italy (n = 5693; age = 14-94 years; mean +/- standard deviation = 43 +/- 17 years...
Show moreOBJECTIVE: Personality traits underlie maladaptive behaviors, and cognitive and emotional disturbances that contribute to major preventable causes of global disease burden. This study examines detailed personality profiles of underweight, normal, and overweight individuals to provide insights into the causes and treatments of abnormal weight. METHODS: More than half of the population from four towns in Sardinia, Italy (n = 5693; age = 14-94 years; mean +/- standard deviation = 43 +/- 17 years) were assessed on multiple anthropometric measures and 30 facets that comprehensively cover the five major dimensions of personality, using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. RESULTS: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were associated with being underweight and obese, respectively. High Impulsiveness (specifically eating-behavior items) and low Order were associated with body mass index categories of overweight and obese, and with measures of abdominal adiposity (waist and hip circumference). Those scoring in the top 10% of Impulsiveness were about 4 kg heavier than those in the bottom 10%, an effect independent and larger than the FTO genetic variant. Prospective analyses confirmed that Impulsiveness and Order were significant predictors of general and central measures of adiposity assessed 3 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obese individuals have difficulty resisting cravings and lack methodical and organized behaviors that might influence diet and weight control. Although individuals' traits have limited impact on the current obesogenic epidemic, personality traits can improve clinical assessment, suggest points of intervention, and help tailor prevention and treatment approaches.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0033, 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181a2925b
Format: Citation

Title: Genetics of Serum BDNF: Meta-analysis of the Val66Met and Genome-wide Association Study.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Piras, Maria, Lobina, Monia, Mulas, Antonella, Meirelles, Osorio, Sutin, Angelina, Chan, Wayne, Sanna, Serena, Uda, Manuela, Crisponi, Laura, Schlessinger,...
Show moreTerracciano, Antonio, Piras, Maria, Lobina, Monia, Mulas, Antonella, Meirelles, Osorio, Sutin, Angelina, Chan, Wayne, Sanna, Serena, Uda, Manuela, Crisponi, Laura, Schlessinger, David
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Abstract/Description: Abstract Objectives. Lower levels of serum brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the best known biomarkers of depression. To identify genetic variants associated with serum BDNF, we tested the Val66Met (rs6265) functional variant and conducted a genome-wide association scan (GWAS). Methods. In a community-based sample (N = 2054; aged 19-101, M = 51, SD = 15) from Sardinia, Italy, we measured serum BDNF concentration and conducted a GWAS. Results. We estimated the heritability of...
Show moreAbstract Objectives. Lower levels of serum brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the best known biomarkers of depression. To identify genetic variants associated with serum BDNF, we tested the Val66Met (rs6265) functional variant and conducted a genome-wide association scan (GWAS). Methods. In a community-based sample (N = 2054; aged 19-101, M = 51, SD = 15) from Sardinia, Italy, we measured serum BDNF concentration and conducted a GWAS. Results. We estimated the heritability of serum BDNF to be 0.48 from sib-pairs. There was no association between serum BDNF and Val66Met in the SardiNIA sample and in a meta-analysis of published studies (k = 13 studies, total n = 4727, P = 0.92). Although no genome-wide significant associations were identified, some evidence of association was found in the BDNF gene (rs11030102, P = 0.001) and at two loci (rs7170215, P = 4.8 × 10(-5) and rs11073742 P = 1.2 × 10(-5)) near and within NTRK3 gene, a neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor. Conclusions. Our study and meta-analysis of the literature indicate that the BDNF Val66Met variant is not associated with serum BDNF, but other variants in the BDNF and NTRK3 genes might regulate the level of serum BDNF.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0014, 10.3109/15622975.2011.616533
Format: Citation

Title: Genome-Wide Association Scan of Trait Depression.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Tanaka, Toshiko, Sutin, Angelina, Sanna, Serena, Deiana, Barbara, Lai, Sandra, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Abecasis, Gonçalo, Ferrucci, Luigi, Costa...
Show moreTerracciano, Antonio, Tanaka, Toshiko, Sutin, Angelina, Sanna, Serena, Deiana, Barbara, Lai, Sandra, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Abecasis, Gonçalo, Ferrucci, Luigi, Costa, Paul
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Abstract/Description: BACKGROUND: Independent of temporal circumstances, some individuals have greater susceptibility to depressive affects, such as feelings of guilt, sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness. Identifying the genetic variants that contribute to these individual differences can point to biological pathways etiologically involved in psychiatric disorders. METHODS: Genome-wide association scans for the depression scale of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory in community-based samples from a...
Show moreBACKGROUND: Independent of temporal circumstances, some individuals have greater susceptibility to depressive affects, such as feelings of guilt, sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness. Identifying the genetic variants that contribute to these individual differences can point to biological pathways etiologically involved in psychiatric disorders. METHODS: Genome-wide association scans for the depression scale of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory in community-based samples from a genetically homogeneous area of Sardinia, Italy (n = 3972) and from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging in the United States (n = 839). RESULTS: Meta-analytic results for genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms indicate that the strongest association signals for trait depression were found in RORA (rs12912233; p = 6 × 10⁻⁷·), a gene involved in circadian rhythm. A plausible biological association was also found with single nucleotide polymorphisms within GRM8 (rs17864092; p = 5 × 10⁻⁶), a metabotropic receptor for glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest shared genetic basis underlying the continuum from personality traits to psychopathology.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0023, 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.06.030
Format: Citation

Title: High Neuroticism and Low Conscientiousness Are Associated with Interleukin-6.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Deiana, Barbara, Naitza, Silvia, Ferrucci, Luigi, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: BACKGROUND: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness are frequently implicated in health-risk behaviors, such as smoking and overeating, as well as health outcomes, including mortality. Their associations with physiological markers of morbidity and mortality, such as inflammation, are less well documented. The present research examines the association between the five major dimensions of personality and interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine often elevated in patients with...
Show moreBACKGROUND: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness are frequently implicated in health-risk behaviors, such as smoking and overeating, as well as health outcomes, including mortality. Their associations with physiological markers of morbidity and mortality, such as inflammation, are less well documented. The present research examines the association between the five major dimensions of personality and interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine often elevated in patients with chronic morbidity and frailty. METHOD: A population-based sample (n=4923) from four towns in Sardinia, Italy, had their levels of IL-6 measured and completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R. Analyses controlled for factors known to have an effect on IL-6: age; sex; smoking; weight; aspirin use; disease burden. RESULTS: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were both associated with higher levels of IL-6. The findings remained significant after controlling for the relevant covariates. Similar results were found for C-reactive protein, a related marker of chronic inflammation. Further, smoking and weight partially mediated the association between impulsivity-related traits and higher IL-6 levels. Finally, logistic regressions revealed that participants either in the top 10% of the distribution of Neuroticism or the bottom 10% of conscientiousness had an approximately 40% greater risk of exceeding clinically relevant thresholds of IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the literature on personality and self-reported health, individuals high on Neuroticism or low on Conscientiousness show elevated levels of this inflammatory cytokine. Identifying critical medical biomarkers associated with personality may help to elucidate the physiological mechanisms responsible for the observed connections between personality traits and physical health.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0026, 10.1017/S0033291709992029
Format: Citation

Title: Impulsivity-Related Traits Are Associated with Higher White Blood Cell Counts.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Milaneschi, Yuri, Cannas, Alessandra, Ferrucci, Luigi, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Zonderman, Alan, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: A chronically elevated white blood cell (WBC) count is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. The present research tests whether facets of impulsivity-impulsiveness, excitement-seeking, self-discipline, and deliberation-are associated with chronically elevated WBC counts. Community-dwelling participants (N = 5,652) from Sardinia, Italy, completed a standard personality questionnaire and provided blood samples concurrently and again 3 years later. Higher scores on impulsivity, in...
Show moreA chronically elevated white blood cell (WBC) count is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. The present research tests whether facets of impulsivity-impulsiveness, excitement-seeking, self-discipline, and deliberation-are associated with chronically elevated WBC counts. Community-dwelling participants (N = 5,652) from Sardinia, Italy, completed a standard personality questionnaire and provided blood samples concurrently and again 3 years later. Higher scores on impulsivity, in particular impulsiveness and excitement-seeking, were related to higher total WBC counts and higher lymphocyte counts at both time points. Impulsiveness was a predictor of chronic inflammation: for every standard deviation difference in this trait, there was an almost 25% higher risk of elevated WBC counts at both time points (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.10-1.38). These associations were mediated, in part, by smoking and body mass index. The findings demonstrate that links between psychological processes and immunity are not limited to acute stressors; stable personality dispositions are associated with a chronic inflammatory state.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0013, 10.1007/s10865-011-9390-0
Format: Citation

Title: Meta-analysis of Genome-wide Association Studies Identifies Common Variants in CTNNA2 Associated with Excitement-seeking.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Esko, Tönu, Sutin, Angelina, de Moor, Marleen, Meirelles, Osorio, Zhu, G., Tanaka, Toshiko, Giegling, Ina, Nutile, Teresa, Realo, Anu, Allik, J., Hansell,...
Show moreTerracciano, Antonio, Esko, Tönu, Sutin, Angelina, de Moor, Marleen, Meirelles, Osorio, Zhu, G., Tanaka, Toshiko, Giegling, Ina, Nutile, Teresa, Realo, Anu, Allik, J., Hansell, Narelle, Wright, Margeret, Montgomery, G., Willemsen, Gonneke, Hottenga, Jouke-Jan, Friedl, M., Ruggiero, D., Sorice, R., Sanna, Serena, Cannas, Alessandra, Räikkönen, K., Widen, Elisabeth, Palotie, Aarno, Eriksson, Johan, Cucca, Francesco, Krueger, Robert F., Lahti, Jari, Luciano, Michelle, Smoller, Jordan W., van Duijn, Cornelia, Abecasis, Gonçalo, Boomsma, Dorret, Ciullo, Marina, Costa, Paul, Ferrucci, Luigi, Martin, Nicholas G., Metspalu, Andres, Rujescu, Dan, Schlessinger, David, Uda, Manuela
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Abstract/Description: The tendency to seek stimulating activities and intense sensations define excitement-seeking, a personality trait akin to some aspects of sensation-seeking. This trait is a central feature of extraversion and is a component of the multifaceted impulsivity construct. Those who score high on measures of excitement-seeking are more likely to smoke, use other drugs, gamble, drive recklessly, have unsafe/unprotected sex and engage in other risky behaviors of clinical and social relevance. To...
Show moreThe tendency to seek stimulating activities and intense sensations define excitement-seeking, a personality trait akin to some aspects of sensation-seeking. This trait is a central feature of extraversion and is a component of the multifaceted impulsivity construct. Those who score high on measures of excitement-seeking are more likely to smoke, use other drugs, gamble, drive recklessly, have unsafe/unprotected sex and engage in other risky behaviors of clinical and social relevance. To identify common genetic variants associated with the Excitement-Seeking scale of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, we performed genome-wide association studies in six samples of European ancestry (N=7860), and combined the results in a meta-analysis. We identified a genome-wide significant association between the Excitement-Seeking scale and rs7600563 (P=2 × 10(-8)). This single-nucleotide polymorphism maps within the catenin cadherin-associated protein, alpha 2 (CTNNA2) gene, which encodes for a brain-expressed α-catenin critical for synaptic contact. The effect of rs7600563 was in the same direction in all six samples, but did not replicate in additional samples (N=5105). The results provide insight into the genetics of excitement-seeking and risk-taking, and are relevant to hyperactivity, substance use, antisocial and bipolar disorders.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0018, 10.1038/tp.2011.42
Format: Citation

Title: The Neural Correlates of Neuroticism Differ by Sex Prospectively Mediate Depressive Symptoms Among Older Women.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Beason-Held, Lori, Dotson, Vonetta, Resnick, Susan M., Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: BACKGROUND: Mood disorders in old age increase the risk of morbidity and mortality for individuals and healthcare costs for society. Trait Neuroticism, a strong risk factor for such disorders into old age, shares common genetic variance with depression, but the more proximal biological mechanisms that mediate this connection are not well understood. Further, whether sex differences in the neural correlates of Neuroticism mirror sex differences in behavioral measures is unknown. The present...
Show moreBACKGROUND: Mood disorders in old age increase the risk of morbidity and mortality for individuals and healthcare costs for society. Trait Neuroticism, a strong risk factor for such disorders into old age, shares common genetic variance with depression, but the more proximal biological mechanisms that mediate this connection are not well understood. Further, whether sex differences in the neural correlates of Neuroticism mirror sex differences in behavioral measures is unknown. The present research identifies sex differences in the stable neural activity associated with Neuroticism and tests whether this activity prospectively mediates Neuroticism and subsequent depressive symptoms. METHODS: A total of 100 (46 female) older participants (>55years) underwent a resting-state PET scan twice, approximately two years apart, and completed measures of Neuroticism and depressive symptoms twice. RESULTS: Replicating at both time points, Neuroticism correlated positively with resting-state regional cerebral blood-flow activity in the hippocampus and midbrain in women and the middle temporal gyrus in men. For women, hippocampal activity mediated the association between Neuroticism at baseline and depressive symptoms at follow-up. The reverse mediational model was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroticism was associated with stable neural activity in regions implicated in emotional processing and regulation for women but not men. Among women, Neuroticism prospectively predicted depressive symptoms through greater activity in the right hippocampus, suggesting one neural mechanism between Neuroticism and depression for women. Identifying responsible mechanisms for the association between Neuroticism and psychiatric disorders may help guide research on pharmacological interventions for such disorders across the lifespan.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0021, 10.1016/j.jad.2010.06.004
Format: Citation

Title: Neuroticism, Depressive Symptoms, and Serum BDNF.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Lobina, Monia, Piras, Maria, Mulas, Antonella, Cannas, Alessandra, Meirelles, Osorio, Sutin, Angelina, Zonderman, Alan, Uda, Manuela, Crisponi, Laura,...
Show moreTerracciano, Antonio, Lobina, Monia, Piras, Maria, Mulas, Antonella, Cannas, Alessandra, Meirelles, Osorio, Sutin, Angelina, Zonderman, Alan, Uda, Manuela, Crisponi, Laura, Schlessinger, David
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Abstract/Description: OBJECTIVE: Animal models and clinical studies suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. We test whether serum and plasma levels of BDNF are associated with trait neuroticism and its facets and with state measures of depressive symptoms. METHODS: In a community-based cohort (N = 2099), we measured serum and plasma BDNF concentrations and administered the Revised NEO Personality Inventory and the Center for Epidemiological Studies...
Show moreOBJECTIVE: Animal models and clinical studies suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. We test whether serum and plasma levels of BDNF are associated with trait neuroticism and its facets and with state measures of depressive symptoms. METHODS: In a community-based cohort (N = 2099), we measured serum and plasma BDNF concentrations and administered the Revised NEO Personality Inventory and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Covariates included age, sex, cigarette smoking, obesity, and antidepressant use. RESULTS: Serum BDNF concentrations were inversely related to neuroticism (r = -0.074, p < .001), in particular the depression facet (r = -0.08, p < .001). Lower BDNF concentrations were also associated with severe depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale ≥ 28; odds ratio = 0.906; 95% confidence interval = 0.851-0.965). The association of serum BDNF with neuroticism was independent of depressive symptoms, indicating that serum BDNF might represent a biological correlate of neuroticism and not just of transient depressive states. Plasma BDNF was not associated with measures of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that lower serum BDNF is associated with both a dispositional vulnerability to depression and acute depressive states in the general population.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0019, 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182306a4f
Format: Citation

Title: Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and the Five-Factor Model of Personality.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Deiana, Barbara, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Lakatta, Edward, Costa, Paul
Abstract/Description: Unhealthy lipid levels are among the leading controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease. To identify the psychological factors associated with dyslipidemia, this study investigates the personality correlates of cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL) and triglycerides. A community-based sample (N=5532) from Sardinia, Italy, had their cholesterol and triglyceride levels assessed and completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R. All analyses controlled for age, sex, BMI...
Show moreUnhealthy lipid levels are among the leading controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease. To identify the psychological factors associated with dyslipidemia, this study investigates the personality correlates of cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL) and triglycerides. A community-based sample (N=5532) from Sardinia, Italy, had their cholesterol and triglyceride levels assessed and completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R. All analyses controlled for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, hypertension, and diabetes. Low Conscientiousness and traits related to impulsivity were associated with lower HDL cholesterol and higher triglycerides. Compared to the lowest 10%, those who scored in top 10% on Impulsivity had a 2.5 times greater risk of exceeding the clinical threshold for elevated triglycerides (OR=2.51, CI=1.56-4.07). In addition, sex moderated the association between trait depression (a component of Neuroticism) and HDL cholesterol, such that trait depression was associated with lower levels of HDL cholesterol in women but not men. When considering the connection between personality and health, unhealthy lipid profiles may be one intermediate biomarker between personality and morbidity and mortality.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0028, 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.01.012
Format: Citation

Title: Personality and Obesity Across the Adult Life Span.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Ferrucci, Luigi, Zonderman, Alan, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: Personality traits contribute to health outcomes, in part through their association with major controllable risk factors, such as obesity. Body weight, in turn, reflects our behaviors and lifestyle and contributes to the way we perceive ourselves and others. In this study, the authors use data from a large (N = 1,988) longitudinal study that spanned more than 50 years to examine how personality traits are associated with multiple measures of adiposity and with fluctuations in body mass index ...
Show morePersonality traits contribute to health outcomes, in part through their association with major controllable risk factors, such as obesity. Body weight, in turn, reflects our behaviors and lifestyle and contributes to the way we perceive ourselves and others. In this study, the authors use data from a large (N = 1,988) longitudinal study that spanned more than 50 years to examine how personality traits are associated with multiple measures of adiposity and with fluctuations in body mass index (BMI). Using 14,531 anthropometric assessments, the authors modeled the trajectory of BMI across adulthood and tested whether personality predicted its rate of change. Measured concurrently, participants higher on Neuroticism or Extraversion or lower on Conscientiousness had higher BMI; these associations replicated across body fat, waist, and hip circumference. The strongest association was found for the impulsivity facet: Participants who scored in the top 10% of impulsivity weighed, on average, 11Kg more than those in the bottom 10%. Longitudinally, high Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness, and the facets of these traits related to difficulty with impulse control, were associated with weight fluctuations, measured as the variability in weight over time. Finally, low Agreeableness and impulsivity-related traits predicted a greater increase in BMI across the adult life span. BMI was mostly unrelated to change in personality traits. Personality traits are defined by cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns that likely contribute to unhealthy weight and difficulties with weight management. Such associations may elucidate the role of personality traits in disease progression and may help to design more effective interventions.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0016, 10.1037/a0024286
Format: Citation

Title: Personality and Metabolic Syndrome.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Costa, Paul, Uda, Manuela, Ferrucci, Luigi, Schlessinger, David, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has paralleled the sharp increase in obesity. Given its tremendous physical, emotional, and financial burden, it is of critical importance to identify who is most at risk and the potential points of intervention. Psychological traits, in addition to physiological and social risk factors, may contribute to metabolic syndrome. The objective of the present research is to test whether personality traits are associated with metabolic syndrome in a large...
Show moreThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome has paralleled the sharp increase in obesity. Given its tremendous physical, emotional, and financial burden, it is of critical importance to identify who is most at risk and the potential points of intervention. Psychological traits, in addition to physiological and social risk factors, may contribute to metabolic syndrome. The objective of the present research is to test whether personality traits are associated with metabolic syndrome in a large community sample. Participants (N = 5,662) from Sardinia, Italy, completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R, and were assessed on all components of metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose). Logistic regressions were used to predict metabolic syndrome from personality traits, controlling for age, sex, education, and current smoking status. Among adults over age 45 (n = 2,419), Neuroticism and low Agreeableness were associated with metabolic syndrome, whereas high Conscientiousness was protective. Individuals who scored in the top 10% on Conscientiousness were approximately 40% less likely to have metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41-0.92), whereas those who scored in the lowest 10% on Agreeableness were 50% more likely to have it (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.09-2.16). At the facet level, traits related to impulsivity and hostility were the most strongly associated with metabolic syndrome. The present research indicates that those with fewer psychological resources are more vulnerable to metabolic syndrome and suggests a psychological component to other established risk factors.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0020, 10.1007/s11357-010-9153-9
Format: Citation

Title: Personality, Metabolic Rate and Aerobic Capacity.
Creator: Terracciano, Antonio, Schrack, Jennifer, Sutin, Angelina, Chan, Wayne, Simonsick, Eleanor M., Ferrucci, Luigi
Abstract/Description: Personality traits and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults are reliable predictors of health and longevity. We examined the association between personality traits and energy expenditure at rest (basal metabolic rate) and during normal and maximal sustained walking. Personality traits and oxygen (VO(2)) consumption were assessed in 642 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Results indicate that personality traits were mostly unrelated to resting metabolic rate and...
Show morePersonality traits and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults are reliable predictors of health and longevity. We examined the association between personality traits and energy expenditure at rest (basal metabolic rate) and during normal and maximal sustained walking. Personality traits and oxygen (VO(2)) consumption were assessed in 642 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Results indicate that personality traits were mostly unrelated to resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure at normal walking pace. However, those who scored lower on neuroticism (r = -0.12) and higher on extraversion (r = 0.11), openness (r = 0.13), and conscientiousness (r = 0.09) had significantly higher energy expenditure at peak walking pace. In addition to greater aerobic capacity, individuals with a more resilient personality profile walked faster and were more efficient in that they required less energy per meter walked. The associations between personality and energy expenditure were not moderated by age or sex, but were in part explained by the proportion of fat mass. In conclusion, differences in personality may matter the most during more challenging activities that require cardiorespiratory fitness. These findings suggest potential pathways that link personality to health outcomes, such as obesity and longevity.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0011, 10.1371/journal.pone.0054746
Format: Citation

Title: Personality Traits Prospectively Predict Verbal Fluency in a Lifespan Sample.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio, Kitner-Triolo, Melissa, Uda, Manuela, Schlessinger, David, Zonderman, Alan
Abstract/Description: In a community-dwelling sample (N = 4,790; age range 14-94), we examined whether personality traits prospectively predicted performance on a verbal fluency task. Open, extraverted, and emotionally stable participants had better verbal fluency. At the facet level, dispositionally happy and self-disciplined participants retrieved more words; those prone to anxiety and depression and those who were deliberative retrieved fewer words. Education moderated the association between conscientiousness...
Show moreIn a community-dwelling sample (N = 4,790; age range 14-94), we examined whether personality traits prospectively predicted performance on a verbal fluency task. Open, extraverted, and emotionally stable participants had better verbal fluency. At the facet level, dispositionally happy and self-disciplined participants retrieved more words; those prone to anxiety and depression and those who were deliberative retrieved fewer words. Education moderated the association between conscientiousness and fluency such that participants with lower education performed better on the fluency task if they were also conscientious. Age was not a moderator at the domain level, indicating that the personality-fluency associations were consistent across the life span. A disposition toward emotional vulnerability and being less open, less happy, and undisciplined may be detrimental to cognitive performance.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0015, 10.1037/a0024276
Format: Citation

Title: Personality and Career Success: Concurrent and Longitudinal Relations.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Costa, Paul, Miech, Richard, Eaton, William W.
Abstract/Description: The present research addresses the dynamic transaction between extrinsic (occupational prestige, income) and intrinsic (job satisfaction) career success and the Five-Factor Model of personality. Participants (N = 731) completed a comprehensive measure of personality and reported their job title, annual income, and job satisfaction; a subset of these participants (n = 302) provided the same information approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently, emotionally stable and conscientious...
Show moreThe present research addresses the dynamic transaction between extrinsic (occupational prestige, income) and intrinsic (job satisfaction) career success and the Five-Factor Model of personality. Participants (N = 731) completed a comprehensive measure of personality and reported their job title, annual income, and job satisfaction; a subset of these participants (n = 302) provided the same information approximately 10 years later. Measured concurrently, emotionally stable and conscientious participants reported higher incomes and job satisfaction. Longitudinal analyses revealed that, among younger participants, higher income at baseline predicted decreases in Neuroticism and baseline Extraversion predicted increases in income across the 10 years. Results suggest that the mutual influence of career success and personality is limited to income and occurs early in the career.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0036, 10.1002/per.704
Format: Citation

Title: Perceived Weight Discrimination and Obesity.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Terracciano, Antonio
Abstract/Description: Weight discrimination is prevalent in American society. Although associated consistently with psychological and economic outcomes, less is known about whether weight discrimination is associated with longitudinal changes in obesity. The objectives of this research are (1) to test whether weight discrimination is associated with risk of becoming obese (Body Mass Index≥30; BMI) by follow-up among those not obese at baseline, and (2) to test whether weight discrimination is associated with risk...
Show moreWeight discrimination is prevalent in American society. Although associated consistently with psychological and economic outcomes, less is known about whether weight discrimination is associated with longitudinal changes in obesity. The objectives of this research are (1) to test whether weight discrimination is associated with risk of becoming obese (Body Mass Index≥30; BMI) by follow-up among those not obese at baseline, and (2) to test whether weight discrimination is associated with risk of remaining obese at follow-up among those already obese at baseline. Participants were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of community-dwelling US residents. A total of 6,157 participants (58.6% female) completed the discrimination measure and had weight and height available from the 2006 and 2010 assessments. Participants who experienced weight discrimination were approximately 2.5 times more likely to become obese by follow-up (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.58–4.08) and participants who were obese at baseline were three times more likely to remain obese at follow up (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 2.06–4.97) than those who had not experienced such discrimination. These effects held when controlling for demographic factors (age, sex, ethnicity, education) and when baseline BMI was included as a covariate. These effects were also specific to weight discrimination; other forms of discrimination (e.g., sex, race) were unrelated to risk of obesity at follow-up. The present research demonstrates that, in addition to poorer mental health outcomes, weight discrimination has implications for obesity. Rather than motivating individuals to lose weight, weight discrimination increases risk for obesity.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0009, 10.1371/journal.pone.0070048
Format: Citation

Title: Perceptions of Stressful Life Events as Turning Points Are Associated with Self-Rated Health and Psychological Distress.
Creator: Sutin, Angelina, Costa, Paul, Wethington, Elaine, Eaton, William W.
Abstract/Description: We test the hypothesis that changes in physical and psychological health are associated with construals of stressful life events. At two points in time, approximately 10 years apart, participants (n=1038) rated their physical health and psychological distress. At the second assessment, participants also reported their most stressful life event since the first assessment and indicated whether they considered the event a turning point and/or lesson learned. Lower self-ratings of health and...
Show moreWe test the hypothesis that changes in physical and psychological health are associated with construals of stressful life events. At two points in time, approximately 10 years apart, participants (n=1038) rated their physical health and psychological distress. At the second assessment, participants also reported their most stressful life event since the first assessment and indicated whether they considered the event a turning point and/or lesson learned. Lower self-ratings of health and higher ratings of psychological distress, controlling for baseline health and distress, and relevant demographic factors, were associated with perceiving the stressful life event as a turning point, particularly a negative turning point. The two health measures were primarily unrelated to lessons learned. How individuals construe the most stressful events in their lives are associated with changes in self-rated health and distress.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_mhs-0024, 10.1080/10615800903552015
Format: Citation

Medical sciences (29)	+ -
Psychology (27)	+ -
Psychiatry (24)	+ -
Human behavior (19)	+ -
Mental health (19)	+ -

Social psychiatry (15)	+ -
Personality (14)	+ -
Social aspects (14)	+ -
Mental illness (12)	+ -
Diseases (6)	+ -
Metabolism (6)	+ -
Geriatrics (5)	+ -
Disorders (4)	+ -
Genetics (4)	+ -
Physiology (4)	+ -
Amino acids (3)	+ -
Biochemistry (3)	+ -
Chemicals (3)	+ -
Drugs (3)	+ -
Genomics (3)	+ -
Health (3)	+ -
Medical genetics (3)	+ -
Medicine (3)	+ -
Nutrition (3)	+ -
Pathology (3)	+ -
Peptides (3)	+ -
Proteins (3)	+ -
Symptoms (3)	+ -
Adult (2)	+ -
Associations, institutions, etc. (2)	+ -

text (32)	+ -
journal article (2)	+ -

Terracciano, Antonio (18)	+ -
Costa, Paul (15)	+ -
Ferrucci, Luigi (12)	+ -
Schlessinger, David (12)	+ -
Uda, Manuela (12)	+ -

Zonderman, Alan (6)	+ -
Deiana, Barbara (5)	+ -
Sanna, Serena (4)	+ -
Cannas, Alessandra (3)	+ -
Meirelles, Osorio (3)	+ -
Tanaka, Toshiko (3)	+ -
Abecasis, Gonçalo (2)	+ -
Beason-Held, Lori (2)	+ -
Chan, Wayne (2)	+ -
Crisponi, Laura (2)	+ -
Daly, Michael (2)	+ -
Eaton, William W. (2)	+ -
Lakatta, Edward (2)	+ -
Lobina, Monia (2)	+ -
Milaneschi, Yuri (2)	+ -
Mulas, Antonella (2)	+ -
Piras, Maria (2)	+ -
Resnick, Susan M. (2)	+ -
Robinson, Eric (2)	+ -
Allik, J. (1)	+ -
An, Yang (1)	+ -
Bagby, R. Michael (1)	+ -
Balaci, Lenuta (1)	+ -
Boomsma, Dorret (1)	+ -

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