Final answer:
Personality patterns have been linked to specific illnesses, such as depression, anger/hostility, anxiety, and heart disease. Understanding this link can help healthcare providers treat patients and identify risk factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the field of health, researchers have linked specific personality patterns to specific illnesses. For example, Friedman and Booth-Kewley (1987) conducted a statistical review of 101 studies and proposed the existence of a disease-prone personality, which includes characteristics such as depression, anger/hostility, and anxiety. Moreover, neuroticism, a personality trait associated with anxiety and moodiness, has been identified as a risk factor for chronic health problems and mortality (Ploubidis & Grundy, 2009).
Specifically, Type A behavior pattern has been associated with heart disease. Studies conducted in the 1970s showed a link between Type A behavior patterns and later development of heart disease (Rosenman et al., 1975; Haynes, Feinleib, & Kannel, 1980).
Overall, understanding the relationship between personality and illness can help healthcare providers better understand and treat patients, as well as identify potential risk factors for certain diseases.