5.3

JPT Research Digest

Personality Type, Eating Behavior, and Suicide Risk.


de Figueiredo, M. D., Nasser, S. N., Franco, C.B. et al. (2021). Personality type, eating behaviour and suicide risk in women in treatment for obesity. Eat and Weight Disorders, 26, 547–554.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00877-9

This study aimed to determine the personality types of women in treatment for obesity and the associations among their personality characteristics, eating behavior, and suicide risk. Participants were recruited from two groups: a clinical group of 60 women in pharmacological treatment for obesity and a surgical group of 60 women who were post-bariatric gastric bypass surgery. The participants completed a semi-structured interview and were given three assessments: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) instrument, a Binge Eating Scale (BES), and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) which measures suicidal ideation and behavior.

Results demonstrated that ISFJ and ESFJ were the most prevalent types in both the clinical and surgical groups. In the surgical group, 32% of members were ISFJ and 18.3% were ESFJ. In the clinical group, 33% had preferences for ISFJ and 25% for ESFJ. Participants with a preference for Introversion had a higher prevalence of severe binging, suicidal thoughts throughout life, and recent suicidal thoughts than participants who preferred Extraversion. Body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher suicidal thoughts throughout life in the clinical group, whereas BMI was associated with higher recent suicidal thoughts in the surgery group.

Fifty percent (50%) of the surgical group and 58% of the clinical group had preferences for Sensing, Feeling, and Judging. These preferences reflect a focus on the body and in particular, feelings about the body. A preference for Judging can contribute a desire for control of the body and/or feelings for the body. The results of this study show an alarming mental health reality amongst an obesity treatment population, as more than 50% of the subjects showed suicidal thoughts throughout life. A larger sample, with both genders, would benefit future work.


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Journal of Psychological Type® Research Digest (JPT-RD) is made available through Myers & Briggs Foundation, worldwide publisher. The editorial team includes Kesstan Blandin, PhD, Yvonne Nelson-Reid, PhD, Logan Abbitt, MLIS, and Purnima Sims.

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Myers & Briggs Foundation carries the legacy of Isabel Briggs Myers and the MBTI® instrument through our mission to educate the public about psychological type—including its ethical, meaningful, and practical applications—and to conduct research on psychological type and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) instrument. The JPT-RD, published annually, is a publication that highlights research and ideas in the field of psychological type, the MBTI Instrument, and Jungian thought.

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