A Cross-Sectional Study Investigating Associations between Personality Traits, Glycemic Control, and BMI in Persons with Diabetes: Lolland-Falster Health Study, Denmark

Abstract

There is a growing focus on person-centered care, emphasizing the importance of respecting inter-individual differences and implementing individualized treatment initiatives. Prior research has established an association between personality traits, body mass index, and health-related behaviors. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of personality trait assessments in identifying individuals at risk of glycemic dysregulation and increasing BMI. This cross-sectional study used a dataset comprising 140 participants with diabetes who completed the Big Five personality trait questionnaire from the Lolland-Falster Health Study. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between personality traits, glycemic control, and BMI ≥ 25. No significant associations between personality traits and glycemic control were found. There was a significant association between agreeableness and lower odds of BMI ≥ 25 in the unadjusted analysis (OR 0.54 (0.34–0.86)), which persisted after adjusting for sex, age, and education (OR 0.54 (0.33–0.89)). No significant association between glycemic control and personality traits was observed in this small sample study. However, higher levels of agreeableness were associated with a lower likelihood of having a BMI of ≥25. This preliminary study suggests that integrating personality assessments could help identify individuals at risk of increasing BMI. These findings highlight the potential of using personality traits to guide targeted interventions, offering a direction for future research.