Does personality predict blood pressure over a 10-year period?

We posited that if personality traits were to influence disease development, then there would have to exist a stable link between personality and certain indicators of health status. This hypothesis was evaluated by measuring the stability of blood pressure (BP)–personality associations over a 10-year interval. One hundred and twelve participants completed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and personality questionnaires twice, over a 10-year time interval. Stability coefficients (r) for measures of depression, hostility, self-deception and impression management were 0.35, 0.55, 0.26 and 0.41, respectively. BP was also fairly stable (r = .44 and r = .59 for systolic/diastolic BP). Associations between personality indicators and BP were noted for depression, hostility, and impression management at baseline. Hostility additionally correlated with diastolic BP 10 years later. Further analyses revealed differential results for men and women, as well as a more pronounced linkage in individuals with a positive family history of hypertension. Multiple regression analyses were utilized to assess gender differences. High self-deception was found to predict significant variance in 10-year BP. Higher age and low hostility were both independent predictors of 10-year BP in women. These results support the hypothesis that personality traits can play a role in disease development.