Examination of the neuroticism-symptom reporting relationship in individuals with type 2 diabetes

The current study utilized a within-subject, experience sampling methodology (ESM) to examine the relationship between neuroticism (N) and physical symptom reports. Individuals with type 2 diabetes monitored diabetes-related symptoms, rated negative and positive affect (NA and PA), estimated their blood glucose (BG) levels, and tested their actual BG levels with a glucometer four times per day for 7 days. Multilevel modeling analyses indicated that N, NA, and PA were related to reported symptom frequency. Neuroticism moderated the relation between PA and symptom reports: Lower PA was more strongly related to symptom reports among high-N individuals. In addition, there was evidence that symptoms mediated the relationship between N and state NA. Finally, N was related to overestimation of BG, beyond that accounted for by state NA. Results are discussed with respect to potential effects of N on the processing of negative self-relevant information and on self-regulatory behavior in health contexts.