Abstract:
The study of health behaviors has intrigued scholars because individuals vary widely in their states of well-being. Many studies have been conducted to examine the relationship that personality type plays in individual behavior, however few of these studies have examined personality type and health behaviors or individual wellness. If it can be demonstrated that personality type or specific elements of personality have a role in determining health behaviors which lead to a higher level of wellness, then perhaps this information could be used to provide appropriate interventions to different populations of personality type. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality type as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and individual wellness as measured by the Wellsource Personal Wellness Profile.The participants in this study were 197 employees of Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Indiana. Multiple one way analyses of variance were run comparing each type to the others in regard to seventeen different wellness factors. The data demonstrate a relationship between personality preferences and individual wellness. The most consistent of these findings is that the Ns or intuitive types almost always scored higher than the Ss or sensing types. It is recommended that the health promotion professional consider using these results by tailoring specific interventions to the particular personality preferences of their target populations.