The Effect of Personality Traits on Health Anxiety in Adults

Abstract

Aim:This study aimed to determine the level of health anxiety in adults visiting family medicine clinics and to examine its relationship with individuals' personality traits.Method:The cross-sectional study included 400 participants aged 18 years and older who visited the family medicine clinic between January 2022 and June 2022. Participants completed a questionnaire specifically designed for the study to assess sociodemographic characteristics, along with the 18-item Health Anxiety Scale and the 24-item Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.Results:The average age of participants was 38.5±13.2 years, with 64.0% being female. The average health anxiety score of participants was found to be 15.5±9.0. The average health anxiety score was highest among singles and lowest among married individuals. A significant negative correlation was found between age and health anxiety score (r=-0.139; p=0.005). A statistically significant inverse relationship was observed between participants’ perceived general health and their health anxiety scores (Kendall’s τ = -0.221, p < 0.001)A positive relationship was found between health anxiety level and neuroticism, and a negative relationship was found with extraversion (r=0.410, p<0.001; r=-0.229, p<0.001).Conclusion:Health anxiety in adults presenting to family medicine clinics was associated with personality traits and selected psychosocial factors. Higher neuroticism and lower extraversion scores were associated with higher health anxiety. Younger age, poorer perceived health, and a history of psychiatric illness were also related to higher health anxiety scores.