the relationship of personality preferences and type to health-promoting behaviors, alcohol use

236 Pages·2017·2.93 MB·English

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University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School
2011
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Billy Fredrick Martin
University of Kentucky, [email protected]
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Martin, Billy Fredrick, "THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY PREFERENCES AND TYPE TO HEALTH-
PROMOTING BEHAVIORS, ALCOHOL USE, AND CIGARETTE SMOKING" (2011). University of Kentucky
Doctoral Dissertations. 148.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/148
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been
accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of
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ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION

Billy Fredrick Martin

The Graduate School
University of Kentucky
2011
THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY PREFERENCES
AND TYPE TO HEALTH-PROMOTING BEHAVIORS,
ALCOHOL USE, AND CIGARETTE SMOKING

ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the
College of Education
at the University of Kentucky

By
Billy Fredrick Martin

Lexington, Kentucky
Director: Dr. Richard Riggs, Professor of Kinesiology and Health Promotion
Lexington, Kentucky
2011
Copyright © Billy Fredrick Martin 2011
ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION

THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY PREFERENCES
AND TYPE TO HEALTH-PROMOTING BEHAVIORS,
ALCOHOL USE, AND CIGARETTE SMOKING

An individual’s personality traits and characteristics have been found to have an
important relationship with health behaviors. However, there has been minimal research
conducted with personality types. The purpose of the study was to examine the
predictive relationship among MBTI® personality preferences and types and both selected
health-promoting and selected risk-taking behaviors among residential college students.
Furthermore, several potential mediating demographic variables were added to the study
to determine their predictive relationship and if they should be entered into a model for
the selected health behaviors.

The study used a cross-sectional design with two self-report instruments and
demographic questionnaire. The two self-report instruments were the MBTI® and the
HPLP II. A systematic random sample was employed to obtain the sample of full-time
residential college students. A total of 406 subjects voluntarily completed the
instruments. The subjects ranged in age from 18 to 28 with 98.3% reporting traditional
college age. Descriptive and inferential statistics with an alpha level of .05 were used for
data analysis.

The results revealed that models incorporating MBTI® personality preferences and
types had a significant predictive relationship with nutrition, interpersonal relations,
spiritual growth, physical activity, aggregate health-promoting lifestyle, alcohol use,
binge drinking, and heavy drinking. However, the variance explained by the models for
each behavior was consistently low with the one exception of interpersonal relations.
Health-responsibility, stress management, and cigarette smoking could not be predicted
by models integrating MBTI® personality preferences and types. Nonetheless, specific
personality preferences and types did have a significant relationship with health-
responsibility, stress management, and cigarette smoking.

In conclusion, MBTI® personality preferences and types provided valuable insight
into explaining several of the selected health behaviors. The results revealed personality
preferences and type can be useful in health research. Given the popularity of the
MBTI®, future research incorporating the MBTI® and various health behaviors may offer
valuable information used by health professionals and counselors to modify health
behaviors.

KEYWORDS: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Health-Promoting Lifestyle
Profile II (HPLP II), personality type, personality preference, health
behavior

Billy F. Martin d
Student’s Signature
4/11/2011 d
Date
THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY PREFERENCES
AND TYPE TO HEALTH-PROMOTING BEHAVIORS,
ALCOHOL USE, AND CIGARETTE SMOKING

By
Billy Fredrick Martin

Dr. Richard Riggs d
Director of Dissertation
Dr. Richard Riggs d
Director of Graduate Studies
4/11/2011 1
DISSERTATION

Billy Fredrick Martin

The Graduate School
University of Kentucky
2011
THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY PREFERENCES
AND TYPE TO HEALTH-PROMOTING BEHAVIORS,
ALCOHOL USE, AND CIGARETTE SMOKING

DISSERTATION

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the
College of Education
at the University of Kentucky

By
Billy Fredrick Martin

Lexington, Kentucky
Director: Dr. Richard Riggs, Professor of Kinesiology and Health Promotion
Lexington, Kentucky
2011
Copyright © Billy Fredrick Martin 2011
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I first and foremost want to thank my loving and encouraging wife. Kari has
willingly lost her husband through the dissertation process, and been amazingly
supportive. I cannot say enough about her positive, calming influence. My son, Camden,
for still calling me daddy even though I was not there as much as I should have. Every
time Camden and I drove by my office he would ask “Daddy are you going to your home
tonight?” A son should not think his dad’s office is his home. My grandmother, Ann,
who sold everything she could so a first generation student could afford to go to college.
Without her sacrifice I would not be where I am today.
I wish to thank everyone who helped with the technical aspects of the dissertation.
My chair, Dr. Richard Riggs, for all his guidance, proofreading, editing, support, and did
I mention editing. His leadership was critical for completing the project in a timely
manner. In addition, Dr. E.J. Keeley graciously allowed me to bounce ideas about
statistical procedures, and gave an abundance of support. The dissertation committee
members, Dr. Aaron Beighle, Dr. Skip Kifer, and Dr. Melody Noland, who pushed me to
provide a more complete product, which significantly improved the final results. The
outside examiner, Dr. Mark Dignan, who was extremely thoughtful and helpful at the
dissertation defense. I also wish to thank my work supervisor(s) Dr. Michael Reagle and
Dr. James Conneely. They have been incredibly supportive and provided much needed
guidance throughout the process.
Finally, I want to thank God. I have said throughout this journey that His hand
was on it. I know without His support there would be no success. I have been blessed
with more than I deserve and this is just another example.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………… iii
List of Tables……………………………………………………………………......vii
List of Figures……………………………………………………………………… viii
Chapter 1: Statement of the Problem
Background………………………………………………………………… 1
Purpose and Significance of Study………………………………………… 7
Research Questions and Hypotheses………………………………………. 10
Definition of Terms…………………………………………………………12

Chapter 2: Literature Review
Introduction………………………………………………………… ………15
Personality Type Theory…………………………………………………… 15
Health Promotion Model…………………………………………………… 21
Determinants of Health-Promoting Lifestyle………………………….........29
Physical Activity and College Students…………………………………..... 32
Nutrition, Weight and College Students…………………………………… 38
Stress and Health……………………………………………………………43
Social Support and Health…………………………………………………..49
Spirituality and Health……………………………………………………... 53
Alcohol Use and Health……………………………………………………. 55
Tobacco Use and Health…………………………………………………… 61
Personality and Health……………………………………………………... 66
Summary…………………………………………………………………… 74

Chapter 3: Methodology
Introduction………………………………………………………………… 77
Study Design……………………………………………………………….. 77
Research Questions…………………………………………………77
Hypotheses………………………………………………………….78
Population and Sampling…………………………………………………... 80
Procedures………………………………………………………………...... 82
Description of Instruments
Demographic Questionnaire………….………….………………… 84
Myers-Briggs Type Inventory®……………………………………. 84
Health-Promoting Lifestyle ………..……………………………… 89
Data Coding…………….………………………………………………….. 92
Data Analysis………………………………………………………………. 94
Summary…………………………………………………………………… 95

Chapter 4: Results & Discussion
Overview…………………………………………………………………… 96
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