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- Runeson, Roma, et al.
(författare)
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The infuence of personality, measured by the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), on symptoms among subjects in suspected sick buildings
- 2004
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Ingår i: Indoor Air. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0905-6947 .- 1600-0668. ; :14, s. 394-404
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to study possible relationships between personality traitsas measured by the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), a self-report personalityinventory based on psychobiological theory, and medical symptoms, insubjects with previous work history in suspected sick buildings. The studycomprised 195 participants from 19 consecutive cases of suspected sick buildings,initially collected in 1988–92. In 1998–89, the KSP inventory and a symptomsquestionnaire were administered in a postal follow-up study. There were 16questions on symptoms, including symptoms from the eyes, nose, throat, skin,and headache, tiredness, and a symptom score (SC), ranging from 0 to 16, wascalculated. The questionnaire also requested information on personal factors,including age, gender, smoking habits, allergy and diagnosed asthma. The KSPratings in the study group did not differ from the mean personality scale normscores, calculated from an external reference group. Females had higher scoresfor somatic anxiety (P < 0.01), muscular tension (P < 0.001), psychic anxiety(P < 0.01), psychasthenia (P < 0.05), indirect aggression (P < 0.05), and guilt(P < 0.05), while males scored higher on detachment (P < 0.001). Subjects withhigher SC were found to display higher degree of somatic anxiety (P < 0.001),muscular tension (P < 0.001), psychic anxiety (P < 0.001), psychasthenia(P < 0.001), inhibition of aggression (P < 0.05), detachment (P < 0.05), suspicion(P < 0.01), indirect aggression (P < 0.01), and verbal aggression(P < 0.05). In addition, ocular, respiratory, dermal, and systemic symptoms(headache and tiredness) were significantly related to anxiety- and aggressivityrelatedscales. There were associations between personality scales and change ofsymptom score (SC) during the 9-year period. The associations between KSPpersonality traits and symptoms were more pronounced in females. In conclusion,there are gender differences in personality and SBS symptoms. Personalitymay play a role in the occurrence of symptoms studied in indoor environmentalepidemiology. Our results support a view that measurement of personality couldbe of value in future studies and vulnerability to environmental stress.
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