Longitudinal Study of Personality and Disease Incidence Among Antarctic Winter-Over Volunteers

摘要

This study examined the relationship between certain personality characteristics and the long term risk for disease incidence. Subjects were 2,724 enlisted Navy men who volunteered to winter-over in Antarctica between 1963 and 1964. Men who actually wintered-over were compared with a control group of personnel found to be acceptable for winter-over duty but assigned elsewhere. Both groups were followed using medical and service history records to determine rates of all-cause first hospitalizations. Personality was measured using the FIRO-B scales and an inventory specially designed for evaluation winter-over personnel. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the contribution of each personality characteristic, age, education, and winter-over experience to disease risk. Results indicated that age was positively correlated with increased disease risk while education and the personality measures of Control-Expressed and Achievement need were negatively correlated. Those who did not winter-over in Antarctica had a significantly higher independent risk for subsequent disease incidence than the winter-over group. Keywords: Stress (Physiology); Life Events; Illnes; Social Support.