Validity of the Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck personality-stress model of disease: An empirical prospective cohort study. (15th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whitfield, John B.; Landers, J. George; Martin, Nicholas G.; Boyle, Gregory J.
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 157(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04-15
• Subjects: SIRI scale -- Prospective study -- Mortality -- Cancer -- Cardiovascular diseases; BMI Body Mass Index -- CHD Coronary Heart Disease -- CI Confidence Interval -- CVD Cardiovascular Disease -- HR Hazard Ratio -- ICD International Classification of Disease -- NDI National Death Index -- SD Standard Deviation -- SIRI Short Interpersonal Reactions Inventory; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.109797
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Highlights: 2197 women and 919 men completed the combined short interpersonal reactions inventory with nine subscores calculated. After 23.4 years, protocols were matched against dates and causes of death from the Australian National Death Index (1108 out of 3027 individuals with useable SIRI scores had died). Type 2 (CHD-prone) and Type 4 (healthy) SIRI scores were significantly associated ( p < 0.05) with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality but not with any-cancer mortality. Despite criticisms of the Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck personality-stress model, our study found empirical support for some SIRI subtypes. Consistent with two previous studies, inverse associations of Type 4 (healthy) scores with all-cause mortality were found, and Type 2 scores predicted CHD mortality. No significant relationship was found between Type 1 scores and cancer mortality. Abstract: Personality-stress subtypes measured via the Short Interpersonal Reactions Inventory (SIRI) have been claimed to predispose to cancer, cardiovascular disease, or overall good health. We examined such associations in a 1993–1996 study on health risk factors in Australians aged over 50 years. 2197 women and 919 men completed the questionnaire, with nine subscores calculated. After a median 23.4 years, protocols were matched against dates/causes of death (1108 out of 3027 respondents with useable SIRI scores had died). Survival analysis tested for associations between subscores and mortality from all causes, mortality from cancers (30% of deaths), cardiovascular disease (23% of deaths), and other known causes (35% of deaths). Type 2 (CHD-prone) and Type 4 (healthy) scores were significantly associated ( p < 0.05) with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality but not with any-cancer mortality. Despite criticisms of the Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck data, we found empirical support for some SIRI subtypes. In accord with the Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck personality-stress model, and consistent with two previous SIRI studies, inverse associations of Type 4 (healthy) scores with all-cause mortality were found and also Type 2 scores predicted CVD mortality. However, no significant relationship was found between Type 1 scores and cancer mortality.