Kadri Arumäe1, Daniel Briley2, Lucía Colodro-Conde3, Erik Lykke Mortensen4, Kerry Jang5, Juko Ando6, Christian Kandler7, Thorkild I A Sørensen4, Alain Dagher8, René Mõttus1,9, Uku Vainik10,11. 1. University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. 2. University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA. 3. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 4. University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 6. Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. 7. University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany. 8. Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. 9. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. 10. University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. uku.vainik@gmail.com. 11. Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. uku.vainik@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Many personality traits correlate with BMI, but the existence and direction of causal links between them are unclear. If personality influences BMI, knowing this causal direction could inform weight management strategies. Knowing that BMI instead influences personality would contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of personality development and the possible psychological effects of weight change. We tested the existence and direction of causal links between BMI and personality. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: We employed two genetically informed methods. In Mendelian randomization, allele scores were calculated to summarize genetic propensity for the personality traits neuroticism, worry, and depressive affect and used to predict BMI in an independent sample (N = 3 541). Similarly, an allele score for BMI was used to predict eating-specific and domain-general phenotypic personality scores (PPSs; aggregate scores of personality traits weighted by BMI). In a direction of causation (DoC) analysis, twin data from five countries (N = 5424) were used to assess the fit of four alternative models: PPSs influencing BMI, BMI influencing PPSs, reciprocal causation, and no causation. RESULTS: In Mendelian randomization, the allele score for BMI predicted domain-general (β = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.08; P = 0.003) and eating-specific PPS (β = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.09; P < 0.001). The allele score for worry also predicted BMI (β = -0.05; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.02; P < 0.001), while those for neuroticism and depressive affect did not (P ≥ 0.459). In DoC, BMI similarly predicted domain-general (β = 0.21; 95% CI:, 0.18, 0.24; P < 0.001) and eating-specific personality traits (β = 0.19; 95% CI:, 0.16, 0.22; P < 0.001), suggesting causality from BMI to personality traits. In exploratory analyses, links between BMI and domain-general personality traits appeared reciprocal for higher-weight individuals (BMI > ~25). CONCLUSIONS: Although both genetic analyses suggested an influence of BMI on personality traits, it is not yet known if weight management interventions could influence personality. Personality traits may influence BMI in turn, but effects in this direction appeared weaker.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Many personality traits correlate with BMI, but the existence and direction of causal links between them are unclear. If personality influences BMI, knowing this causal direction could inform weight management strategies. Knowing that BMI instead influences personality would contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of personality development and the possible psychological effects of weight change. We tested the existence and direction of causal links between BMI and personality. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: We employed two genetically informed methods. In Mendelian randomization, allele scores were calculated to summarize genetic propensity for the personality traits neuroticism, worry, and depressive affect and used to predict BMI in an independent sample (N = 3 541). Similarly, an allele score for BMI was used to predict eating-specific and domain-general phenotypic personality scores (PPSs; aggregate scores of personality traits weighted by BMI). In a direction of causation (DoC) analysis, twin data from five countries (N = 5424) were used to assess the fit of four alternative models: PPSs influencing BMI, BMI influencing PPSs, reciprocal causation, and no causation. RESULTS: In Mendelian randomization, the allele score for BMI predicted domain-general (β = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.08; P = 0.003) and eating-specific PPS (β = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.09; P < 0.001). The allele score for worry also predicted BMI (β = -0.05; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.02; P < 0.001), while those for neuroticism and depressive affect did not (P ≥ 0.459). In DoC, BMI similarly predicted domain-general (β = 0.21; 95% CI:, 0.18, 0.24; P < 0.001) and eating-specific personality traits (β = 0.19; 95% CI:, 0.16, 0.22; P < 0.001), suggesting causality from BMI to personality traits. In exploratory analyses, links between BMI and domain-general personality traits appeared reciprocal for higher-weight individuals (BMI > ~25). CONCLUSIONS: Although both genetic analyses suggested an influence of BMI on personality traits, it is not yet known if weight management interventions could influence personality. Personality traits may influence BMI in turn, but effects in this direction appeared weaker.
Authors: Sarah E Hampson; Grant W Edmonds; Lewis R Goldberg; Joan P Dubanoski; Teresa A Hillier Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2015-01-26 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Wiebke Bleidorn; Patrick L Hill; Mitja D Back; Jaap J A Denissen; Marie Hennecke; Christopher J Hopwood; Markus Jokela; Christian Kandler; Richard E Lucas; Maike Luhmann; Ulrich Orth; Jenny Wagner; Cornelia Wrzus; Johannes Zimmermann; Brent Roberts Journal: Am Psychol Date: 2019-12
Authors: Marius Lahti; Katri Räikkönen; Sakari Lemola; Jari Lahti; Kati Heinonen; Eero Kajantie; Anu-Katriina Pesonen; Clive Osmond; David J P Barker; Johan G Eriksson Journal: J Pers Soc Psychol Date: 2013-05-27