One personality type is the Type D or distressed personality.
Key features:
(1) negative affect (tendency to feel negative emotions)
(2) social inhibition (tendency to inhibit self-expression in social situations)
Negative emotions may include:
(1) dysphoria and depression
(2) worry and anxiety
(3) irritability
(4) neuroses
Social inhibition may include:
(1) discomfort in social situations
(2) fear of being rejected
(3) reticence and social withdrawal
(4) lack of social poise
(5) intraversion
The type D personality has been associated with cardiac disease.
The health impact of the type D personality may be associated with poor health behaviors. Targeting health behaviors (diet, exercise, etc) may improve outcomes.
