EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PREDISPOSING PERSONALITY FACTORS, LIFE EVENTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS AMONG ADULTS CAN MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON ILLNESS PREVENTION.

EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PREDISPOSING PERSONALITY FACTORS, LIFE EVENTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS AMONG ADULTS CAN MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON ILLNESS PREVENTION. CURRENTLY,THERE IS NO COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM AVAILABLE FOR AUTOMATED, OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE PSYCHOSOCIAL PRECURSORS OF DEBILITATING ILLNESSES SUCH AS HEART DISEASE, CANCER, OR STROKE. SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD BE VERY USEFUL AS A HEALTH RISK SCREENING DEVICE TO BE USED AS PART OF INDUSTRIAL HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A RETROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGICALSTUDY TO DEVELOP PREDICTIVE ILLNESS RISK. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS RESEARCH WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER- BASED ASSESSMENT SERVICE THAT WILL RELATE PERSONALITY TRAITSAND LIFE EVENTS TO SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DEBILITATING PHYSICAL ILLNESS. THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATION OF THISSERVICE WOULD BENEFIT BOTH THE PRIVATE HEALTH CARE CONSUMER AND BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY BY ENHANCING EMPLOYEE HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS.