Influence of Type D personality on quality of life in university students: The mediating effect of health‐promoting behavior and subjective health status

Abstract

This study aimed to test a hypothetical path model estimating the influence of Type D personality on health‐promoting behaviors (HPB), subjective health status, and quality of life (QoL) in university students, and to verify the mediating effects of HPB and subjective health status between Type D personality and QoL. A structural equation model involving 380 university students was used. Data were collected between November and December 2018 via structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and Amos 23.0. The model's fit indices were adequate. Type D personality had a direct effect on QoL and an indirect effect on QoL via HPB and subjective health status. Type D personality, HPB, and subjective health status explained 67.6% of the total variance in QoL. Intervention programs that consider Type D personality, HPB, and subjective health status may be useful to improve university students' QoL.

The Effect of Type-D Personality Traits on Smoking in Students of Medicine Faculty

“…University years are a critical period when transition to young adulthood, physical, cognitive, emotional and social development are experienced [1,2]. During this period, students are frequently exposed to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, and sedentary life, and do not set health as a priority in their lives [2].…”

“…University years are a critical period when transition to young adulthood, physical, cognitive, emotional and social development are experienced [1,2]. During this period, students are frequently exposed to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, and sedentary life, and do not set health as a priority in their lives [2]. At the same time, they may encounter several discomforts such as anxiety, stress, adjustment disorder and depression caused by many reasons such as separation from the family, adapting to dorm life, making new friends, socio-economic difficulties, loneliness, taking their own responsibilities, future occupations and working life [3,4].…”

“…Personality plays an important role in developing behaviors and habits affecting health and sickness process [7]. In a study with university students, it was stated that type D personality was associated with quality of life, healthpromoting behaviors and subjective health status [2].…”

“…Type D personality has been associated with many conditions such as depression, anxiety, chronic tension, anger, pessimism, perceived lack of social support, low subjective well-being, low self-esteem, and dissatisfaction with life [8]. Studies have linked Type D personality to unhealthy behaviors (i.e., alcohol consumption, smoking and lack of physical activity) and chronic health problems (i.e., Cardiovascular diseases) [2,8].…”

“…In the literature, there are studies regarding the relation between students' smoking and anxiety/depression, stress, concern and general health conditions [2,[6][7][8]. On the other hand, the number of the studies examining the relationship between the smoking status of the students and Type-D personality are limited.…”