Do women's personality traits influence their beliefs about cervical cancer screening: a descriptive-correlational study in a sample from Türkiye.

Background: Individuals' participation in preventive health practices may influenced by a variety of factors, including personality traits. This study aims to examine the relationship between women's personality traits and their health beliefs about cervical cancer and the Pap smear test.

Methods: This descriptive and correlational study involved 291 women from a vocational training center in Türkiye who met the criteria and consented to participate. Data were collected between August 20 and September 30, 2021 using the Personal Information Form, the Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Belief Model Scale and the Five-Factor Personality Scale. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, independent samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and chi-square tests.

Results: The results demonstrated significant associations between women's personality traits and their health beliefs. Extraversion showed positive correlations with perceived benefits (r = 0.267, p < 0.01), perceived barriers (r = 0.159, p < 0.01), seriousness (r = 0.213, p < 0.01), sensitivity (r = 0.219, p < 0.01), and health motivation (r = 0.190, p < 0.01). Similarly, agreeableness was significantly related to perceived benefits (r = 0.186, p < 0.01), barriers (r = 0.168, p < 0.01), seriousness (r = 0.245, p < 0.01), sensitivity (r = 0.191, p < 0.01), and health motivation (r = 0.061, p < 0.05). Self-control was linked to increased perceptions of benefits (r = 0.192, p < 0.01), seriousness (r = 0.180, p < 0.01), and sensitivity (r = 0.116, p < 0.05). Neuroticism also showed significant positive relationships with perceived benefits (r = 0.206, p < 0.01), seriousness (r = 0.217, p < 0.01), and sensitivity (r = 0.148, p < 0.05). Additionally, openness to experience was positively correlated with perceived benefits (r = 0.183, p < 0.01), seriousness (r = 0.137, p < 0.05), and health motivation (r = 0.152, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of personality traits in shaping women's health beliefs regarding cervical cancer and screening behaviors. To improve preventive health practices and screening participation, health interventions should consider individual personality traits alongside health attitudes and beliefs.