Roles of personality traits, educational level, and duration of illness in illness behaviour among hypertensive patients in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the roles of personality traits, educational level, and duration of illness in illness behaviour among hypertensive patients in Anambra State. Three hundred and sixteen patients were drawn from three Government hospitals in the State. The participants comprised of 160 males and 156 females with ages ranging from 18 to 70 years (Mean age = 46.27, SD = 16.93). Two instruments were used in the study: Illness Behaviour Questionnaire and Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI). Pearson Product Moment Correlation and hierarchical multiple regression were used for data analysis. It was found that educational level, duration of illness, extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience positively predicted illness behaviour such that these factors were associated with more positive behaviours. Agreeableness and neuroticism negatively predicted illness behaviour, reflecting that these personality traits were associated with negative illness behaviours among hypertensive patients. Based on the findings, it is recommended that clinical intervention should be encouraged in order to take care of medical and psychosocial factors that precipitate illness behaviour of hypertensive patients.