The Warm Temperament (Mizaj) as a Predictor of Anxiety Disorder among Participants in the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors Study (KERCADRS)

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in communities. This cross-sectional study assessed the relationship between temperament and other demographic characteristics of participants with anxiety. It also determined the predictors of anxiety disorders among this cohort. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerman, Iran from 11 Mars, 2018 to 22 May, 2019. The participants were 1532 people who were selected through convenience sampling from those who attended the second round of KERCARDS in 2017. Physical activity, anxiety, depression, and temperament were assessed through related questionnaires. The collected data were described and analyzed by mean (Standard Deviation (SD)) and logistic regression models in SPSS v.23. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 30.02 (6.83) years (age range: 11 to 40). More than two-thirds of them were married (n=1084, 70.7%) and held a diploma and university degrees (n=1112, 72.6%). The anxiety symptoms were prevalent among more than one-third of the participants (n=574, 37.5%, 95%CI: 35.2, 40.1). According to multivariate logistic regression model, female sex (OR:1.80, 95%CI:1.41, 2.30; P value:0.001), illiteracy, lower education (OR:1.40, 95%CI:1.09, 1.81; P value:0.009), a history of depression (OR:14.51, 95%CI:9.65, 21.80; P value:0.001), and having warm Mizaj (OR:1.31, 95%CI:1, 1.71; P value:0.04) were determined as predictors of anxiety. In the present study, female sex, lower educational status, the experience of depression, and warm temperament increased the risk of anxiety and were determined as predictors of anxiety disorder. Diagnosis of temperament seems to be necessary for recognizing anxiety symptoms and also finding an effective treatment.