The relationship between personality traits and psychosomatic complaints in a sample of Iranian adults

Background: It has been suggested that personality traits may be related to the psychological conditions of people. The current study aimed to explore the relationship between personality traits and psychosomatic complaints.

Methods: This study was carried out on a sample of Iranian adults living in Isfahan province. The NEO Five- Factor Inventory questionnaire was used to assess personality traits. A 30-item comprehensive questionnaire was used to assess somatoform symptoms and factor analysis was performed to construct psychosomatic complaints profiles. Data was analyzed by Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model, using R software.

Results: In total, 4763 participants were recruited 44.2% males and 55.8% females, with a mean age of 36.54 ± 8.04 years. The results of the MIMIC model showed that there is a significant association between the dimensions of personality (neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness) and dimensions of psychosomatic complaints profiles (gastrointestinal, neuro-skeletal, pharyngeal-respiratory and psychological) (P < 0.05). In addition, we found that characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, education, physical activity, and body mass index are related to psychosomatic complaints (P < 0.05) and can affect the association between personality traits and psychosomatic complaints.

Conclusions: Given the relationship between personality traits and psychosomatic complaints, it is possible to provide preventive and therapeutic interventions for psychosomatic complaints based on personality traits specific to each individual.