The functioning of individuals with excessive body weight in the context of the Dark Personality Tetrad and psychological resilience

TL;DR

The study explores how personality traits and psychological resilience relate to body weight, finding no significant differences between overweight and normal-weight individuals in these traits.

Contribution

The study reveals that sadism may function differently in overweight individuals compared to those with normal weight, affecting its relationship with resilience.

Findings

No significant differences in Dark Tetrad traits or resilience between overweight and normal-weight individuals.

Sadism correlates negatively with resilience in normal-weight individuals but not in overweight individuals.

Overweight individuals show reactive rather than personality-based sadism, altering its link to resilience.

Abstract

Obesity is a condition with a complex etiology that is highly prevalent in Western societies. A key factor in understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying obesity and in guiding psychotherapeutic interventions is the identification of psychological factors that influence the ability to regulate body weight. Research on personality correlates reveals significant heterogeneity within this clinical population. Higher body mass is associated with increased levels of neuroticism, decreased extraversion, lower conscientiousness, and greater emotional instability. Furthermore, other studies indicate a positive correlation between obesity and impulsivity, body image dysphoria, perfectionism, disinhibition, and a negative correlation with self-esteem.

A total of 463 individuals were studied. The group with excessive body weight (BMI > 25) comprised 322 participants, while the group with normal body weight (BMI < 25) included 141 participants. Personality traits associated with the Dark Tetrad (narcissism, psychopathy, machiavellianism, and sadism) were measured using the SD4-PL questionnaire. General psychological resilience, defined as a stable psychological disposition that enables effective adaptation in crises, was assessed using the SPP-25 scale.

No significant differences were found between individuals with excessive body weight (BMI > 25) and those with normal body weight (BMI < 25) in terms of Dark Personality Tetrad traits or psychological resilience. A negative correlation between resilience and sadism was found in the control group. No similar correlation was seen in the study group.

The group of individuals with excessive body weight is heterogeneous in terms of personality traits. There are no differences in the intensity of Dark Tetrad traits (narcissism, psychopathy, machiavellianism, sadism) compared to individuals with normal body weight. Levels of psychological resilience are also similar. Sadism may have different structures and functions in both groups. In people with normal weight, it is personality-related, while in overweight individuals, it is reactive. This alters the connection between sadism and resilience.