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.
ARTICLE PERMALINK: https://www.myersbriggs.org/research-and-library/journal-psychological-type/personality-type-eating-behavior-and-suicide-risk/
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