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The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

17-08-2023 | Public Health

Individual Differences in Females’ Adherence to Public Health Measures and Psychopathology Symptoms During a Global Health Crisis: the Role of Triarchic Psychopathic Traits

Authors: Gisele Magarotto Machado, MS, Emily R. Perkins, PhD, Thalytha Padulla Gerodo, MS, João Victor Martins Miranda, BS, Claudio Sica, PhD, Christopher J. Patrick, PhD, Lucas de Francisco Carvalho, PhD

Published in: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Abstract

The two broad aims of this study were to (a) investigate how the three traits of the triarchic model—boldness, meanness, and disinhibition—relate to compliance with public health measures, as well as to internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, during a public health crisis, and (b) test for associations between psychopathology and compliance with public health measures. Participants were 947 Brazilian adult females aged 18–75 years who completed measures of the triarchic traits, internalizing and externalizing symptoms/problems, and a COVID-19 behaviors and beliefs questionnaire. Multiple regression and path analyses showed meanness to be the only triarchic trait significantly predictive of compliance with public health measures, in a negative direction, when controlling for the other traits. Results also demonstrated that compliance with public health measures was associated with levels of distress (negatively), obsessions/fear (positively), and positive mood (negatively). Overall, the results demonstrate the contributions of the triarchic traits to understanding complex phenomena, highlighting meanness as the most essential triarchic trait predictor of adherence to public health measures among females.

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To limit the use of stigmatizing language, this scale is referred as “problematic substance use” throughout.⁷⁰^.

Statistics regarding region effects are available from the first author upon request.

The analysis was limited to these variables since meanness was the only triarchic trait significantly related to both compliance with public health measures and some facets of psychopathology (i.e., obsessions/fear and positive mood, see Fig. 2).

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Title: Individual Differences in Females’ Adherence to Public Health Measures and Psychopathology Symptoms During a Global Health Crisis: the Role of Triarchic Psychopathic Traits
Authors: Gisele Magarotto Machado, MS
Emily R. Perkins, PhD
Thalytha Padulla Gerodo, MS
João Victor Martins Miranda, BS
Claudio Sica, PhD
Christopher J. Patrick, PhD
Lucas de Francisco Carvalho, PhD
Publication date: 17-08-2023
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Public Health
Anxiety
Published in: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research
Print ISSN: 1094-3412
Electronic ISSN: 2168-6793
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-023-09858-z

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Individual Differences in Females’ Adherence to Public Health Measures and Psychopathology Symptoms During a Global Health Crisis: the Role of Triarchic Psychopathic Traits

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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