The Big Five Personality Traits and Positive Orientation in Polish Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Meaning in Life

Abstract

Scientific achievements concerning the direct relation between personality traits and positive orientation among patients with multiple sclerosis do not explain the role of potential mediators. In fact, some researchers argue that the traits–positivity association is much more complex than it seems to be. For this reason, we made an attempt to analyze the indirect relationship between the above-mentioned variables, including meaning in life as a mediator. In total, 618 patients with MS took part in the study. The NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Positive Orientation Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used. The results showed that positive orientation/the presence of meaning/searching for meaning correlated positively with extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, and were negatively associated with neuroticism. Moreover, meaning in life in both its dimensions acted as a mediator in 9 of 10 models. It can be assumed that a propensity to establish interpersonal relationships (extraversion), use active imagination (openness), inspire confidence among others (agreeableness), and take responsibility (conscientiousness) can have an impact on someone’s positive attitude toward oneself and the surrounding world (positive orientation) when people have meaning in life and when they are seeking it.

Relationship of personality traits with stigmatization, depression, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis

“…3,35 A recent review study reported that personality traits such as conscientiousness, agreeableness and extraversion were lower and neurotic personality traits were more dominant in MS patients. 14 Different studies have also reported that neuroticism is a dominant personality trait in MS patients 8,9 and this situation is similar to our current study.…”

“…3,11,12 Conversely, positive personality traits such as extraversion, conscientiousness and openness have been reported to be protective factors against physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms. 13,14 In the light of these data, it can be said that personality traits affect the quality of life in a direct or indirect way. Although personality traits and quality of life have not been frequently studied in MS patients, some studies support this statement.…”

A Preliminary Validation of the Polish Version of the Comprehensive Intellectual Humility Scale (CIHS)

“…There is some empirical evidence that positive orientation correlates with openness to experience. 84,85 Such a result is not surprising if we think that openness to experience and openness to revising one's viewpoints likely share a common variance. However, there are also some studies that, like the current study, show an association between positive orientation and openness to experience at the level of tendency.…”