Olfactory Perception is Positively Linked to Anxiety in Young Adults

Jan Havlíček; Lenka Novakova; Marta Vondrová; Aleš A Kuběna; Jaroslava Valentová; S Craig Roberts

doi:10.1068/p7244

journal article Jan 01, 2012

Olfactory Perception is Positively Linked to Anxiety in Young Adults

Jan Havlíček Lenka Novakova

Marta Vondrová Aleš A Kuběna Jaroslava Valentová S Craig Roberts

Perception Vol. 41 No. 10 pp. 1246-1261 · SAGE Publications

View at Publisher Save 10.1068/p7244

Abstract

Olfactory abilities show a high degree of inter-individual variability and this could be partly related to personality differences. Here, in two studies, we tested a potential link between personality dimensions and olfactory perception. Sixty-eight (study 1) and a hundred and fifty-six (study 2) young adults completed the Big Five questionnaire and performed the Sniffin' Sticks test for assessing odour threshold, identification, and (in study 2) discrimination. In neither study did we find a significant link between personality dimensions and olfactory identification scores. However, in study 1, we found a significant positive correlation between the neuroticism dimension and olfactory sensitivity. This was mainly due to the anxiety and self-consciousness subscales, which load onto the neuroticism dimension. In a follow-up study, we again found a significant association between anxiety and odour perception, specifically in odour discrimination. Our results indicate that variability in anxiety could partly explain the high inter-individual variation in olfactory perception.

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Details

Published: Jan 01, 2012
Vol/Issue: 41(10)
Pages: 1246-1261
License: View

Authors

J

Jan Havlíček

Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, U Kříže 8, 158 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

L

Lenka Novakova

Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, U Kříže 8, 158 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

M

Marta Vondrová

Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, U Kříže 8, 158 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

A

Aleš A Kuběna

Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

J

Jaroslava Valentová

Centre for Theoretical Study, Charles University and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Jilská 1, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

S

S Craig Roberts

School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

Cite This Article

Jan Havlíček, Lenka Novakova, Marta Vondrová, et al. (2012). Olfactory Perception is Positively Linked to Anxiety in Young Adults. Perception, 41(10), 1246-1261. https://doi.org/10.1068/p7244

Olfactory Perception is Positively Linked to Anxiety in Young Adults

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