title: A longitudinal study of the relationships between the Big Five personality traits and body size perception.
abstract: The present study investigated the longitudinal development of body size perception in relation to different personality traits. A sample of Swiss adults (N=2905, 47% men), randomly selected from the telephone book, completed a questionnaire on two consecutive years (2012, 2013). Body size perception was assessed with the Contour Drawing Rating Scale and personality traits were assessed with a short version of the Big Five Inventory. Longitudinal analysis of change indicated that men and women scoring higher on conscientiousness perceived themselves as thinner one year later. In contrast, women scoring higher on neuroticism perceived their body size as larger one year later. No significant effect was observed for men scoring higher on neuroticism. These results were independent of weight changes, body mass index, age, and education. Our findings suggest that personality traits contribute to body size perception among adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: chartmann@ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: msiegrist@ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siegrist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body size perception; Conscientiousness; Longitudinal; Neuroticism; Personality