New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

No Link Found Between Personality Traits And Cancer Risk

Date:
January 30, 2008
Source:
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Summary:
Personality traits do not appear to be associated with breast cancer risk. Previous studies have linked personality traits with cancer risk. In 1996 a weak association was found between the development of breast cancer and anti-emotionality -- a lack of emotional behavior or trust in one's own feelings. No other personality traits were associated with breast cancer risk in this study.
Share:
FULL STORY

Personality traits do not appear to be associated with breast cancer risk.

Previous studies have linked personality traits with cancer risk. In 1996, Eveline Bleiker, Ph.D., of The Netherlands Cancer Institute and colleagues found a weak association between the development of breast cancer and antiemotionality--a lack of emotional behavior or trust in one's own feelings. No other personality traits were associated with breast cancer risk in this study.

The researchers conducted a follow-up study with the same group of about 9,700 women who had previously completed a survey that assessed personality traits such as anxiety, anger, antiemotionality, optimism, understanding, and emotional expression. In addition to looking at individual personality traits, the researchers examined how interactions between personality traits influenced breast cancer risk.

Of the women who completed the questionnaire, 217 were diagnosed with breast cancer during the 5- to 13-year follow-up. The researchers did not find any personality trait or personality profile that was associated with increased breast cancer risk.

"We could not confirm our previously reported association between antiemotionality and breast cancer. Our finding that no psychological risk profile was associated with the incidence of breast cancer may help oncologists to reassure patients that their personality appears to have played no role in the development of their breast cancer," the authors write.

This research was recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "No Link Found Between Personality Traits And Cancer Risk." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 January 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129200155.htm>.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute. (2008, January 30). No Link Found Between Personality Traits And Cancer Risk. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129200155.htm
Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "No Link Found Between Personality Traits And Cancer Risk." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129200155.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES