The Relationship between Personality and Health-Related Behaviours - Lab Report Example

1002PSY practical: Introductory individual and social psychology Name Institution Date Abstract There exists dominant relationship between personality and health-related behaviors with regard to their effects of optimism and conscientiousness. Personality is often regarded as an individual code and mannerism of responding to the ideas and call of nature together with its challenges and new measures of individual growth and development. When an individual is certain and has always been known to behavior in a certain way and not the other, he or she is regarded to have developed a personality tribute. In some other cases, personality is thrived or influenced. In this case, someone’s personality developed is forced or influenced to skew to a certain pathway and not the other, which could be naturalized. They are open to influence by optimism and conscientiousness. Other mechanisms as health interferences affect on the development behaviors and personality in people. Therefore, this piece of research writing determines the relationship, which exists between personality and health-relate behaviors (Mulkana & Hailey, 1996). Introduction Relationship between personality and health-related behaviors Personality is a modern day concept of behavior. People are often known by their behavioral deeds and mechanisms. In psychology, human personality is often regarded as a measure of any intended behavior modification at hand. In many cases, people are stated or known by their behaviors (Bogg & Roberts, 2004). If these behavior patterns tolerate and get sustained in an individual, they result in what is termed as personality. Health-related behaviors develop in individuals who are affected or exposed to the risks and damages posted by health problems. For instance, personalities can also be developed and modified through the relation between health problems and behavior growth and development. Doubted, human personality development and modification is subject to many extrinsic effects (Bogg & Roberts, 2004). As such, this research paper stresses whether the personality factors of conscientiousness and optimism affect people’s health. Moreover, the issue under investigation elicits to know the relationship between optimism and consciousness and health behaviors. The study is of immense importance to psychologists and their bid to navigate proper and healthy human personality growth and development. Optimism, being one of the fields under study, is quite influential to the general development and steadfastness of someone’s health. Therefore, it is of great importance to get to learn of and understand the relationship between personality concepts as optimism and the health-related behaviors in people. While at schools and other places of behavior generation and modification, the results obtained will help in understanding different personalities and their take on optimism. This will help in delivery of instructional programs and processes as in schools among learners. Optimism refers to an individual’s innate capacity and desire for success is attendance of an objective derived. The heart to never let go and always fight to the end is always regarded as optimistic temperaments. For instance, when one is at a course of attaining a desired objective, with the procedural and bureaucratic pathways becoming tedious, he or she is expected to pose optimism as a remedy. Hoping for the best, desired, good, and intended surrounds the entire aspect of optimist. In the real sense, optimistic individuals are often guaranteed a healthy living. This is irrespective of other extrinsic interferences to healthy and happy living. As such, acts of optimism are regarded to affect on the general or overall development of personality and health status within an individual (pg 430-477). On the other hand, conscientiousness derives a huge and overwhelming desire and expectation. It is a sense of being careful in life. This aspect also has its own imperative and comparative influence on the health of an individual. In the modern society, people are often conscientious of many things, many of which human basic are and pleasure needs. Failure to attain to the level conscientiousness and achieve of it is often effectual to the general behavior, personality development, and health of an individual. Often, extreme cases of conscientiousness are helpful to the general growth and development of an individual’s life, and personally in general. This results in what is termed as health-related behavior. In psychology, many psychologists often encourage less involvement in conscientiousness. Many of the connotations and facets stressing this are related to development of possibly coherent and free behavior, which will undoubtedly impart positive personalities. NEO PI-R scale facilitated this study in that it revealed a comprehensive study of the adult respondents in the laboratory. The facet scales of conscientiousness are not far from the study of individuals who are prone to psychological distresses as anxiety, anger, impulsiveness, and vulnerabilities. Therefore, conscientiousness is effectual in influencing positive behavior modification among individuals. As such, conscientiousness affects of the general behavior and personality development among individuals. In order to succinctly have an apparent understanding of this piece of research, it is important to know that personality development together with behavior modification is subject to human and environmental changes. The rationale exhibited in this research study is that health takes up a human ability to modify and develop a behavior, which often leads to personality. With tests done on a number of individuals, the main aim was to replicate on their responses, which propagated the success of the topic investigation. Therefore, the study makes hypothesis that optimism will be positively related to health enhancing behaviors. In addition, consciousness will be positively related to health enhancing behaviors. Besides this, conscientiousness will be negatively related to health risk behaviors. Method In order to have a full and succinct lab report of the project, a number of methods were used. All of the methods used yielded the required measures and kinds of results in different spheres. The success of the methods used replicated the general success of the study. Participants A number of students were used to get the required results of the study. The students were taken in the following measures: 298 undergraduate students, of which 86 were males, 211 females, and 1 unspecified, took their enrolment in the undergraduate psychology course. The average age of the participants was estimated to be 17 to 53 years. This gave an average age of 21.3 years and a standard deviation of 6.4 years. Materials A number of categorical scales were used by the participants as they responded to them. Optimism was acquired by use of the Life-Orientation-Revised scale (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994). This scale was made up of six items. For instance, some of the sample items acquired included: “In uncertain times, I usually expect the best” and “I am always optimistic about my future.” The other scale used was the Conscientiousness sub-scale of the NEO Five Factor Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1997). This scale was mainly made up of two items. For instance, two samples were taken and they included the following: “I work hard to accomplish my goals” and “I keep my belongings clean and neat.” Within the questionnaires were a number of questions purposed at accomplishing the study objectives and hypotheses. The questions were used to measure the frequency with which the participants participated in a number of health-related behaviors as health risk behaviors, eating of junk food, consuming of alcohol, dangerous driving, skipping meals, together with other health-related behaviors as placation of sunscreen, exercising, and visiting a dentist. A 5-point Likert type response scale was used to measure all responses to all personality items starting from one to five. One replicated a high disagreement while 5 showed strong agreement. A score of each variable was obtained by averaging. Higher levels described higher levels of optimism and Conscientiousness. Each participant engaged in the health practice and was showed by the health behavior items. The health practices were higher with a high number of numbers of respondents (Scheieret, al., 1994). Procedure The practices involved students responding to questionnaires and other procedures, which involved health activities as visiting a dentist, skipping lunch, and many more. The results were obtained and recorded as below. The satiation of the experiment was in a free and open school environment and laboratory. Results Health Behaviour Personality Optimism Conscientiousness Health Enhancing Behaviours Approximately how many times per week do you brush your teeth? .107 .138* How many times in an average week do you engage in physical exercise that increases your heart rate for a period of 20 minutes or more? .148* .147* When you are out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, what percentage of the time do you apply 15+ (or stronger) sunscreen to your exposed skin? .154** .130* How many serves of fruit or vegetables do you eat in an average day? .262** .193** How many hours of sleep per night? .044 .127* Health Risk Behaviours How many times in an average week do you skip breakfast? N/A -.243** How many times in an average week do you skip lunch? N/A -.145** How many times in an average week do you eat “junk” food for a main meal? N/A -.295** Approximately how many standard alcoholic drinks do you consume on an average week? N/A -.127* How many times in the past month have you engaged in binge drinking? N/A -.176** Discussion As replicated by the results above, there are high chances, which indicated that there is a relationship between optimism and conscientiousness. The number of responses shown by the optimists was always near those shown by the conscientiousness respondents. With some sections, there was no need to have the results tabulated since it was already evident that there existed a relationship between optimism and conscientiousness. For instance, the * sign meant that there was immense confidence that there is a relationship between the two variables. The signs ** indicated a strong confidence of the existence in the relationship between these variables. As such, these results replicate what had been hypothesized. Optimism and conscientiousness are all positive influencers of behavior modification. As compared with the past findings, there are stronger cases of confidences since the respondents were not coerced or influenced to yield these results. However, some weaknesses as lack of enough time to dwell on the results and repeat the experiment for a number of times in order to increase on its reliability affected the study. The findings above are likely to influence on the general development of behavior with respect to facets as optimism and conscientiousness among people. Therefore, the study has shown that optimism is positively related to health enhancing behaviors. In addition, consciousness is positively related to health enhancing behaviors. Besides this, conscientiousness is negatively related to health risk behaviors (Booth-Kelley, 1994). References Booth-Kelley, S. (1994). Associations between major domains of personality and health behavior. Naval: Naval health centre. Bogg, T. and Roberts, B. (2004). Conscientiousness and Health-Related behaviors: A meta- analysis of the leading behavior contributors to mortality. Illinois: university of Illinois press. Costa, P. T., and McCrae, R. R. (1997). Revised NEO personality inventory (Professional manual). Odessa, Florida: Psychological Assessment Resources. Mulkana. S. & Hailey, J. (1996). The role of optimism in health-enhancing behavior. Mississipi: University of southern Mississippi press. Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., and Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from Neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 1063-1078. New York: Centage. Read More

The study is of immense importance to psychologists and their bid to navigate proper and healthy human personality growth and development. Optimism, being one of the fields under study, is quite influential to the general development and steadfastness of someone’s health. Therefore, it is of great importance to get to learn of and understand the relationship between personality concepts as optimism and the health-related behaviors in people. While at schools and other places of behavior generation and modification, the results obtained will help in understanding different personalities and their take on optimism.

This will help in delivery of instructional programs and processes as in schools among learners. Optimism refers to an individual’s innate capacity and desire for success is attendance of an objective derived. The heart to never let go and always fight to the end is always regarded as optimistic temperaments. For instance, when one is at a course of attaining a desired objective, with the procedural and bureaucratic pathways becoming tedious, he or she is expected to pose optimism as a remedy.

Hoping for the best, desired, good, and intended surrounds the entire aspect of optimist. In the real sense, optimistic individuals are often guaranteed a healthy living. This is irrespective of other extrinsic interferences to healthy and happy living. As such, acts of optimism are regarded to affect on the general or overall development of personality and health status within an individual (pg 430-477). On the other hand, conscientiousness derives a huge and overwhelming desire and expectation.

It is a sense of being careful in life. This aspect also has its own imperative and comparative influence on the health of an individual. In the modern society, people are often conscientious of many things, many of which human basic are and pleasure needs. Failure to attain to the level conscientiousness and achieve of it is often effectual to the general behavior, personality development, and health of an individual. Often, extreme cases of conscientiousness are helpful to the general growth and development of an individual’s life, and personally in general.

This results in what is termed as health-related behavior. In psychology, many psychologists often encourage less involvement in conscientiousness. Many of the connotations and facets stressing this are related to development of possibly coherent and free behavior, which will undoubtedly impart positive personalities. NEO PI-R scale facilitated this study in that it revealed a comprehensive study of the adult respondents in the laboratory. The facet scales of conscientiousness are not far from the study of individuals who are prone to psychological distresses as anxiety, anger, impulsiveness, and vulnerabilities.

Therefore, conscientiousness is effectual in influencing positive behavior modification among individuals. As such, conscientiousness affects of the general behavior and personality development among individuals. In order to succinctly have an apparent understanding of this piece of research, it is important to know that personality development together with behavior modification is subject to human and environmental changes. The rationale exhibited in this research study is that health takes up a human ability to modify and develop a behavior, which often leads to personality.

With tests done on a number of individuals, the main aim was to replicate on their responses, which propagated the success of the topic investigation. Therefore, the study makes hypothesis that optimism will be positively related to health enhancing behaviors. In addition, consciousness will be positively related to health enhancing behaviors. Besides this, conscientiousness will be negatively related to health risk behaviors. Method In order to have a full and succinct lab report of the project, a number of methods were used.

All of the methods used yielded the required measures and kinds of results in different spheres.

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