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The current study examines verbal and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) as predicted by the Dark Triad traits (psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) above and beyond associations with the Big Five personality variables, depression, and general hostility within a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample (n = 203) of pregnant women. Prior research indicates that psychopathy is a robust predictor of both IPV perpetration and victimization, but rarely do these analyses include other personality or psychosocial covariates. Key findings include direct effects of psychopathy as a positive predictor of verbal and physical IPV perpetration, as well as indirect effects of the above associations mediated by general hostility. In contrast, depression, but not psychopathy, was a unique predictor of verbal and physical IPV victimization. These findings expand the current literature by focusing on pregnant women as a uniquely vulnerable population and by examining unique direct and indirect effects of psychopathy in the presence of multiple psychosocial covariates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the usefulness of the new facet-version questionnaire of the Zuckerman Alternative Five Factor Model (Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire) in examining the associations between personality, depression and sense of coherence (SOC) in a university student sample. All five of the personality factors were found to be at least partially related to both SOC and depression. In particular, lower neuroticism, sensation seeking and hostility, along with higher extraversion and activity, were all significantly associated with SOC. On the other hand, lower sensation seeking, extraversion and activity, and higher levels of aggression and neuroticism, were associated with higher depression scores, either directly or indirectly through SOC. The results of this study demonstrate the usefulness and validity of the ZKA-PQ personality assessment measure for examining correlates of both SOC and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to test depressive symptoms as a mediator between social difficulties and hostility in young adults. Hostility is often a reaction to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors; therefore a greater understanding of contributing factors is needed, especially among emerging adults. College students ( n = 608; 408 females, 200 males) self-reported on social difficulties, depression, and hostility. Via exploratory factor analyses, two latent constructs related to social difficulty were identified: social performance and social motivation. Using structural equation modeling, the direct effects found that poor social performance was significantly positively associated with BPAQ Total ( β = .44, p < .01). Social motivation was not associated with BPAQ Total ( β = −.07, p = .21). Further, depression scores were found to partially mediate the relationship between social performance deficits ( β = .34, p < .01; 95% CI = .05–.16), but not social motivation ( β = −.06, p > .05; 95% CI = −.04 to .04), and overall aggression. Results are discussed in terms of the influence of negative affect and impaired emotion regulatory processes on hostility as a consequence of social performance deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We posited that if personality traits were to influence disease development, then there would have to exist a stable link between personality and certain indicators of health status. This hypothesis was evaluated by measuring the stability of blood pressure (BP)–personality associations over a 10-year interval. One hundred and twelve participants completed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and personality questionnaires twice, over a 10-year time interval. Stability coefficients (r) for measures of depression, hostility, self-deception and impression management were 0.35, 0.55, 0.26 and 0.41, respectively. BP was also fairly stable (r =.44 and r =.59 for systolic/diastolic BP). Associations between personality indicators and BP were noted for depression, hostility, and impression management at baseline. Hostility additionally correlated with diastolic BP 10 years later. Further analyses revealed differential results for men and women, as well as a more pronounced linkage in individuals with a positive family history of hypertension. Multiple regression analyses were utilized to assess gender differences. High self-deception was found to predict significant variance in 10-year BP. Higher age and low hostility were both independent predictors of 10-year BP in women. These results support the hypothesis that personality traits can play a role in disease development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The relationship between traumatic events and suicide risk is well known. Most researches agree that Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) plays a major role in this link. However, less is known about the specific posttraumatic symptom constellation that predicts suicide risk. In the current study we examined the posttraumatic symptom''s profile which is associated with suicide risk, in a community sample of men with no known psychopathology. The research population included 103 men aged 25–45. They were administered the ‘Traumatic Event Questionnaire’, ‘PTSD Scale’, ‘Suicide Risk Scale’ (SRS) and the SCL-90. Results indicated that suicide risk was predicted by high levels of depression and hostility. High levels of arousal symptom and low levels of avoidance added a significant contribution to that prediction, suggesting that avoidance may serve as a buffer against suicide risk, while high levels of arousal may increase suicide risk. These findings may serve mental health professionals to identify high-risk persons also in a non-clinical population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]