Personality Correlates of Selected Elements of the Health Belief Model

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Abstract
One hundred and ninety-five men with an average age of 38 years and employed in sedentary work [and thus statistically at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD)] replied to a questionnaire assessing the degree to which they felt susceptible to CVD, their expectations regarding the severity of an attack, if they should have one, and their perception of the benefits to be derived from engaging in appropriate preventive behavior. These three elements of the Health Belief Model (HBM) were correlated with the primary source traits of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF). A total of eight 16 PF factors correlated with one or more elements of the HBM, five of them contributors to the second-order factor of anxiety. There was a clear tendency for anxiety dimensions to correlate with perceived susceptibility and severity, but not with benefits. These findings were interpreted as having implications for both researchers and practitioners. On the one hand, such data should encourage researchers to further investigate the relationship between the HBM and personality dimensions with a view towards clarification of the psychodynamic underpinnings of the HBM. On the other hand, health educators may profit from a knowledge of the role of anxiety in perceived susceptibility and severity when planning interventions.

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