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Behavioral Sciences
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Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment
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Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2022) | Viewed by 52933

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Casandra Isabel Montoro Aguilar

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Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: chronic pain; personality; fibromyalgia syndrome; emotional disorders; cognitive impairments; transcranial doppler functional ultrasonography; transcranial direct current stimulation; cerebral autoregulation; cardiovascular variability; hypotension
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Carmen M. Galvez-Sánchez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
2. Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatments, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: chronic pain; fibromyalgia syndrome; syndromes of central sensitization to pain; gender; health; neuropsychology; forensic psychology; mental health; quality of life; wellbeing; personality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Personality is one of the most relevant constructs in psychology due to its implications in both health and disease. Knowing better the personality, both normal and pathological, is basic to understand the people we treat, their attitudes toward therapies, and facilitate a personalized approach to their problems. This special issue aims to contribute to the advancement of theoretical and practical knowledge about personality in different age groups, including healthy and ill populations. Furthermore, a better comprehension of the mediating role of personality in the disease process and coping resources is expected. It is well-known that some personality traits and related factors have been associated with a variety of disorders (e.g. chronic conditions: chronic pain, cancer...), psychological negative states (anxiety, depression…) and violence and criminal behaviors, among many others. In this sense, to explore interventions and treatment which involve any of these traits or factors (i.e. negative affect, resilience, alexithymia, emotional intelligence, perceived stress, emotional regulation, temperament, attitudes, character, neuroticism, psychoticism, extraversion, introversion, narcissism, empathy, emotional dependence, locus of control, etc.) is not only necessary but also mandatory, and more in a vital epoch like the current one plagued by uncertainty and discomfort. Therefore, understanding better the protecting and risk factors associated with health and disease, wherein personality is included, is undoubtedly essential to assure a better psychological adjustment, as well as the management of prevention strategies, aimed to dampen the psychological impact in people prone to suffer any kind of mental health impairment or subjected to the high demands emerging in the current challenging contexts.

Prof. Dr. Casandra I. Montoro Aguilar
Dr. Carmen María Galvez Sánchez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • personality
  • intervention
  • treatment
  • health care
  • mental health
  • prevention
  • negative states
  • chronic conditions
  • psychological adjustment
  • coping resources

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 208 KiB  
Editorial
Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment: Untangling and Explaining New Horizons and Perspectives
by Casandra I. Montoro and Carmen M. Galvez-Sánchez
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(8), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12080245 - 22 Jul 2022
Viewed by 2185
Abstract
Personality—as a construct—is involved in both health and disease [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)

Research

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14 pages, 329 KiB  
Article
The Role of Psychological Inflexibility and Experiential Approach on Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: An Exploratory Study
by Gloria Torres-Fernández, Miguel Rodríguez-Valverde, Salvador Reyes-Martín and Mónica Hernández-Lopez
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12070201 - 22 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2919
Abstract
The prevalence of mental health problems during childhood and adolescence is on the rise. There is a growing interest in the examination of personal variables that may function as risk factors and that may be targeted for effective intervention. This study explores the [...] Read more.
The prevalence of mental health problems during childhood and adolescence is on the rise. There is a growing interest in the examination of personal variables that may function as risk factors and that may be targeted for effective intervention. This study explores the relationships amongst different aspects of psychological inflexibility (one, typically studied, focusing on the individual’s responding to unwanted emotions and cognitions, and another, more recently explored, focusing on the individual’s responding to desired thoughts and affective states), emotional intelligence, and mental health symptoms. A total of 129 school-going children (mean age: 11.16 years old) completed a battery of instruments comprising the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire-Youth (AFQ-Y17), the Experiential Approach Scale (EAS), the Emotional Intelligence Quotient Inventory (EQi-YV), and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-30). Results showed that both the AFQ-Y17 score and an EAS subscale score (Anxious Clinging) were significant independent predictors of mental health symptoms in general. Emotional intelligence was predictive only for depression, and both the AFQ-Y17 and the Anxious Clinging EAS subscale significantly incremented the predictive power of a hierarchical linear regression model including all three variables. These results underscore the relevance of psychological inflexibility for child/adolescent mental health, and the need to further explore a specific aspect of inflexibility regarding positive emotions and other appetitive private events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
14 pages, 281 KiB  
Article
Cluster B versus Cluster C Personality Disorders: A Comparison of Comorbidity, Suicidality, Traumatization and Global Functioning
by Laura Y. Massaal-van der Ree, Merijn Eikelenboom, Adriaan W. Hoogendoorn, Kathleen Thomaes and Hein J. F. van Marle
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12040105 - 12 Apr 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 7301
Abstract
A general clinical assumption states that cluster B personality disorders (PDs) represent a more severe form of PD than cluster C PDs. Consequently, most PD research is centered on cluster B PDs (especially borderline PD). Yet, prevalence ratings of cluster C PDs exceed [...] Read more.
A general clinical assumption states that cluster B personality disorders (PDs) represent a more severe form of PD than cluster C PDs. Consequently, most PD research is centered on cluster B PDs (especially borderline PD). Yet, prevalence ratings of cluster C PDs exceed those of cluster B PDs. In this explorative, cross-sectional study, we compared cluster B and C PD patients (N = 94) on a wide range of clinically-relevant severity measures, including comorbidity, suicidality, (childhood) traumatization and global functioning. Results showed that, although cluster B PD patients suffered more often from substance use disorders and lifetime suicide attempts, no difference could be established between groups for all other severity measures, including trauma variables. In our study, we additionally included a group of combined cluster B and C PDs, who were largely similar to both other groups. Although our study is insufficiently powered to claim a significant non-difference, these findings emphasize that high rates of comorbidity, suicidality, childhood traumatization and functional impairment apply to both cluster B and C patients. As such, our findings encourage more research into cluster C PDs, ultimately leading to more evidence-based treatments for this prevalent patient group. In addition, the high level of traumatization across groups calls for a routine trauma screening, especially since PD treatment may benefit from concurrent trauma treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
18 pages, 1549 KiB  
Article
Narcissistic Personality and Its Relationship with Post-Traumatic Symptoms and Emotional Factors: Results of a Mediational Analysis Aimed at Personalizing Mental Health Treatment
by Casandra I. Montoro, Pablo de la Coba, María Moreno-Padilla and Carmen M. Galvez-Sánchez
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12040091 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 8206
Abstract
Background: Narcissism is characterized by entitlement, grandiose fantasies and the need for admiration. This personality trait has been associated with both traumatic experiences and emotional problems. Most studies have only focused on narcissism in the context of childhood trauma and negative emotional factors. [...] Read more.
Background: Narcissism is characterized by entitlement, grandiose fantasies and the need for admiration. This personality trait has been associated with both traumatic experiences and emotional problems. Most studies have only focused on narcissism in the context of childhood trauma and negative emotional factors. However, dimensions of grandiose narcissism such as authority have been linked to adaptive outcomes. Furthermore, narcissism might not be linked only to negative childhood experiences; it may also be associated with the presence of post-traumatic symptoms. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the associations between narcissism and the frequency and severity of post-traumatic symptoms and emotional factors (resilience capacity, emotional regulation, positive and negative affect, intolerance of uncertainty and perceived stress), as well as the possible mediational role of the latter in the relationship between narcissism and post-traumatic symptoms. Method: A total of 115 healthy young psychology undergraduates and their relatives, aged from 18 to 40 years, were asked to complete a set of questionnaires to evaluate the aforementioned variables. Results: The results showed that most of the grandiose narcissism dimensions were positively related to emotional adaptive outcomes, except exploitativeness and entitlement. The negative associations observed between the frequency and severity of post-traumatic symptoms and narcissism (self-sufficiency) were mediated by affect and resilience, which were in turn positively associated with the majority of the narcissism dimensions. Both positive affect and resilience were important factors mediating the association between grandiose narcissism and post-traumatic symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings reaffirm the need to assess not only desirable personality traits, but also ones that are not initially desirable, before pathologizing them. This consideration may be essential to achieve a personalized approach to the prevention of mental health problems, and promotion of positive emotions, in the general population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
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12 pages, 275 KiB  
Article
Personality as a Possible Intervention Target to Prevent Traumatic Events in Adolescence
by Lucinda Grummitt, Emma Barrett, Erin V. Kelly, Lexine Stapinski and Nicola Newton
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12040090 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4165
Abstract
Traumatic events (severe injury, violence, threatened death) are commonly experienced by children. Such events are associated with a dose-response increasing risk of subsequent substance use, mental illness, chronic disease, and premature mortality. Preventing the accumulation of traumatic events is thus an urgent public [...] Read more.
Traumatic events (severe injury, violence, threatened death) are commonly experienced by children. Such events are associated with a dose-response increasing risk of subsequent substance use, mental illness, chronic disease, and premature mortality. Preventing the accumulation of traumatic events is thus an urgent public health priority. Substance use risk personality profiles (impulsivity, sensation seeking, hopelessness, and anxiety sensitivity) may be an important target for preventing trauma exposure, given associations between these personality traits and risky behaviour, substance misuse, and injuries across adolescence. The current study aimed to investigate associations between personality at age 13 and the number of traumatic events experienced by age 18. It also examined associations between traumas before age 13 and personality at age 13. Participants were the control group of a cluster-randomised controlled trial examining prevention of adolescent alcohol misuse. Baseline data were collected at ages 12–13 (2012). Participants were followed-up at ages 18–19 (2017–2018). Personality profiles of hopelessness, anxiety sensitivity, impulsivity, and sensation seeking were measured at baseline using the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale. Traumatic events and age of exposure were measured at age 18–19 using the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5. Mixed-effect regression was conducted on 287 participants in Stata 17, controlling for sex. High scores on hopelessness, impulsivity, and sensation seeking at age 13 were associated with a greater number of traumatic events by age 18. Impulsivity and sensation seeking predicted the number of new traumatic events from age 13 to 18. Prior trauma exposure was associated with high hopelessness at age 13. Adolescents exhibiting high impulsivity or sensation seeking may be at greater risk of experiencing traumatic events. Additionally, early trauma exposure may contribute to the development of a hopelessness personality trait. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
11 pages, 295 KiB  
Article
Personality, Defense Mechanisms and Psychological Distress in Women with Fibromyalgia
by Annunziata Romeo, Agata Benfante, Giuliano Carlo Geminiani and Lorys Castelli
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12010010 - 7 Jan 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4916
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have shown that many personality traits are associated with fibromyalgia (FM), worsening both the quality of life and psychological distress of patients. Despite the high comorbidity of psychopathological disorders in this syndrome and their association with immature defense styles, few [...] Read more.
Background: Previous studies have shown that many personality traits are associated with fibromyalgia (FM), worsening both the quality of life and psychological distress of patients. Despite the high comorbidity of psychopathological disorders in this syndrome and their association with immature defense styles, few studies have examined the defense mechanisms used by FM patients. The main aim of our study was to investigate personality traits and defense mechanisms in FM patients compared to in a healthy control group (HC). Moreover, we investigated the effect of personality traits and defense mechanisms on psychological distress in both FM and HC groups. Methods: A total of 54 women with FM and 54 healthy women completed the (1) Temperament and Character Inventory—Revised; (2) the Toronto Alexithymia Scale; (3) the Defense Style Questionnaire; and (4) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: The results indicated that FM patients display higher alexithymia, higher harm avoidance, lower self-directedness, lower persistence, and the higher use of a maladaptive defense style compared to HC. We found that alexithymia, harm avoidance, and maladaptive defense style are significant predictors of patients’ psychological distress. Moreover, harm avoidance and adaptive defense style significantly predicted psychological distress in the HC group. Conclusion: The present study is the first to explore the contribution of both defense mechanisms and personality characteristics on the psychological distress of FM patients. Our findings have important clinical implications and may help diagnose and treat FM patients more in depth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
14 pages, 1053 KiB  
Article
Personality Traits, Cognitive Styles, Coping Strategies, and Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Healthy Youngsters
by Javier Rodríguez Árbol, Alberto Ruiz-Osta and Casandra Isabel Montoro Aguilar
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12010005 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6114
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to explore possible changes in the psychological wellbeing of young healthy students during the initial 14 days of the COVID-19 general lockdown that occurred in March of 2020, and if there was any relation with specific [...] Read more.
The objective of the present study was to explore possible changes in the psychological wellbeing of young healthy students during the initial 14 days of the COVID-19 general lockdown that occurred in March of 2020, and if there was any relation with specific personality traits (neuroticism, psychoticism, and extraversion), cognitive styles (internal and external locus of control and intolerance of uncertainty), and coping strategies. One hundred twenty-two university students aged from 18 to 29 years participated in the study. The dispositional factors were assessed at the beginning of the study, while measures of psychological adjustment (anxiety, depression, and self-perceived health) were taken in three different assessment stages, employing validated questionnaires and scales. Anxiety and depression scores significantly increased after one week of lockdown, reaching a plateau pattern by the second week. The levels of self-perceived mental health, vitality, and quality of life showed a pattern of sustained progressive decrease, with a more acute lessening during the first week. Neuroticism, intolerance of uncertainty, and negative autofocus were associated to worse levels of psychological adjustment. These individual differences might be taken into consideration when designing prevention programs aiming to dampen the psychological impact of a general lockdown in healthy population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
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10 pages, 870 KiB  
Article
Effects of Self-Esteem on Self-Viewing: An Eye-Tracking Investigation on Mirror Gazing
by Jonas Potthoff and Anne Schienle
Behav. Sci. 2021, 11(12), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11120164 - 29 Nov 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7419
Abstract
While some people enjoy looking at their faces in the mirror, others experience emotional distress. Despite these individual differences concerning self-viewing in the mirror, systematic investigations on this topic have not been conducted so far. The present eye-tracking study examined whether personality traits [...] Read more.
While some people enjoy looking at their faces in the mirror, others experience emotional distress. Despite these individual differences concerning self-viewing in the mirror, systematic investigations on this topic have not been conducted so far. The present eye-tracking study examined whether personality traits (self-esteem, narcissism propensity, self-disgust) are associated with gaze behavior (gaze duration, fixation count) during free mirror viewing of one’s face. Sixty-eight adults (mean age = 23.5 years; 39 females, 29 males) viewed their faces in the mirror and watched a video of an unknown person matched for gender and age (control condition) for 90 s each. The computed regression analysis showed that higher self-esteem was associated with a shorter gaze duration for both self-face and other-face. This effect may reflect a less critical evaluation of the faces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
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Review

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14 pages, 1104 KiB  
Review
Migraine and Neuroticism: A Scoping Review
by Carmen M. Galvez-Sánchez and Casandra I. Montoro Aguilar
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(2), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12020030 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 8015
Abstract
Headache is the first cause of consultation in neurology, and one of the most frequent reasons for consultation in general medicine. Migraine is one of the most common, prevalent, and socioeconomically impactful disabling primary headache disorders. Neuroticism can be conceptualized as a disposition [...] Read more.
Headache is the first cause of consultation in neurology, and one of the most frequent reasons for consultation in general medicine. Migraine is one of the most common, prevalent, and socioeconomically impactful disabling primary headache disorders. Neuroticism can be conceptualized as a disposition to suffer anxiety and emotional disorders in general. Neuroticism has been associated with various mental and physical disorders (e.g., chronic pain, depression), including migraine. With the aim to explore in depth the relationship between migraine and neuroticism, and contribute to the understanding of this relation in order to provide a better treatment for migraine patients based on a personalized and more comprehensive approach, a scoping review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Databases were searched independently by the two researchers, reaching a final set of 18 articles to be included. The search terms were: migraine and neuroticism. Neuroticism seems to be highly prevalent in migraine patients. Findings reveal that migraine patients with comorbid depression and anxiety showed higher levels of neuroticism. Depression has been associated with an increased risk of transformation from episodic to chronic migraine whereas neuroticism might be a mediator factor. Neuroticism also might be a mediator factor between childhood maltreatment and migraine. The revision conducted confirms that: (1) Migraine patients usually have a higher level of neuroticism and vulnerability to negative affect, compared to non-migraineurs and tension-type headache patients. (2) Neuroticism is associated with migraine. Nonetheless, more research is needed to clarify potential moderators of this relationship and the role of neuroticism itself in this disease. This knowledge might be useful in order to promote a better management of negative emotions as part of intervention programs in migraine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personality, Intervention and Psychological Treatment)
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