Question

. As a clinician, how can you distinguish between culture and personality variables in designing an intervention

Answer 1

Culture

Culture can be defined as the 'customs, arts, lifestyle, habits that characterize a particular society or nation'.

Personality

Personality can be defined as a set of qualities that make a person distinct from another.

Culture and personality variables in designing an intervention

For a Clinician, it is important that to consider the culture and personality variables of patient while planning or designing the interventions. Both culture and personality variables affect the Patient's perception of health concepts and the decisions related to their health.

Difference between culture variables and personality variables:

Culture variables are the variables that are related to culture, such as ethnic customs,dietary customs, arts, lifestyle, religion, beliefs etc. These variables affects the health choices and the way people take care of their health. For example, in certain culture, dietary pattern is against to non vegetarian food and physical touch is an inappropriate behaviour.

Personality variables are the variables that are related to the personality of a person such as cognition, emotional patterns, and behaviour patterns.Personality traits may be different in each individual according to their heredity and the environment they grown. People may be introverts or extroverts. Some might be in the category of Neuroticism( sadness, emotional instability) or the in the category of agreebleness( kindness, trust and affection and selflessness).

Personality type and health has a strong connection. For example neuroticism category people are more prone to substance abuse, cardiovascular diseases and asthma. So a Clinician has to understand the importance of personality variables in relation to health and health choices.