No Link Found Between Personality Traits and Cancer Risk
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In the Journal of the National Cancer Institute of January 29, 2008, Eveline Bleiker, PhD, at The Netherlands Cancer Institute, and colleagues at the VU University Medical Center and Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, report on a large prospective study on psychological risk factors for breast cancer. In addition to looking at individual personality traits, they also examined how interactions between personality traits influenced breast cancer risk.
In 1989 -1990, about 9,700 women completed a personality survey that assessed anxiety, anger, depression, rationality, anti-emotionality, understanding, optimism, social support, and emotional expression and control.
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, with or without adjusting for the medical risk factors.
“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 risk in the development of their breast cancer”, the authors write.
The Netherlands Cancer Institute
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