Malone Johanna C, Cohen Shiri, Liu Sabrina R, Vaillant George E, Waldinger Robert J
Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Pers Individ Dif. 2013 Jul 1;55(2):85-89. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.025.
A growing body of research suggests that personality characteristics relate to physical health; however, this relation ship has primarily been tested in cross-sectional studies that have not followed the participants into old age. The present study utilizes data from a 70-year longitudinal study to prospectively examine the relationship between the adaptive defense mechanisms in midlife and objectively assessed physical health in late life. In addition to examining the direct effect, we test whether social support mediates this relation ship. The sample consisted of 90 men who were followed for over seven decades beginning in late adolescence. Health ratings from medical records were made at three time points (ages 70, 75, and 80). Defense mechanisms were coded from narratives by trained independent raters (Vaillant, Bond, & Vaillant, 1986). Independent raters assessed social supports between ages 50 and 70. More adaptive defenses in midlife were associated with better physical health at all three time points in late life. These relationships were partially mediated by social support. Findings are consistent with the theory that defense maturity is important for building social relationships, which in turn contribute to better late-life physical health. Psychological interventions aimed at improving these domains may be beneficial for physical health.
越来越多的研究表明，人格特征与身体健康有关；然而，这种关系主要是在横断面研究中进行测试的，这些研究并没有对参与者进行跟踪观察至老年。本研究利用一项为期70年的纵向研究数据，前瞻性地考察中年时期的适应性防御机制与晚年客观评估的身体健康之间的关系。除了考察直接效应外，我们还测试社会支持是否介导了这种关系。样本包括90名男性，从青春期后期开始对他们进行了70多年的跟踪观察。在三个时间点（70岁、75岁和80岁）对医疗记录中的健康评级进行了评估。防御机制由训练有素的独立评估者根据叙述进行编码（Vaillant、Bond和Vaillant，1986年）。独立评估者在50岁至70岁之间评估社会支持。中年时期更多的适应性防御与晚年所有三个时间点更好的身体健康相关。这些关系部分由社会支持介导。研究结果与防御成熟度对建立社会关系很重要这一理论一致，而社会关系反过来又有助于改善晚年的身体健康。旨在改善这些方面的心理干预可能对身体健康有益。
