Coping, personality and the development of a central pattern of body fat from youth into young adulthood: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Study

Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1998 Sep;22(9):861-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0800673.

Abstract

Objective: It has been suggested that coping behaviour, in particular a defeat reaction to stress, is a determinant of the central pattern of body fat. To verify this hypothesis, this study investigated if coping behaviour, and associated personality traits, are associated with a central pattern of body fat or total body fatness in a healthy population of males (n=83) and females (n=98) early in life.

Methods: Problem-focused, emotion-focused and type A behaviour were measured at the mean ages of 21 y and 27 y. Personality traits (inadequacy, social inadequacy, dominance, rigidity and debilitating anxiety), a central pattern of body fat (subscapular/triceps, (S/T) ratio) and total body fatness (sum of four skinfolds (SSF): biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac) were measured six times between the ages of 13-27 y.

Results: In both genders, no association was found between either coping strategy and a central pattern of body fat or total body fatness. In males, type A behaviour was significantly negatively correlated with the S/T ratio (r = -0.27, P=0.01) after adjustment for total body fatness, at the mean age of 27 y. In a longitudinal analysis, adjusted for total body fatness, dominance and rigidity were negatively associated with the S/T ratio (beta = -0.09, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) (-0.17; -0.00) and beta = -0.11, 95% CI (-.19; -0.02), respectively) between the ages of 13-21 y in males. These associations of type A behaviour, dominance and rigidity, with a central pattern of body fat, were weaker and did not reach statistical significance with total body fatness.

Conclusions: The results of this study justify further research on the association between coping behaviour, personality and the development of a central pattern of body fat.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology*
  • Adipose Tissue*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Composition*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Netherlands
  • Personality*