Type D personality a risk factor for poor Quality of life (QoL) during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative analysis of individuals with Parkinsons disease and without Parkinsons disease

The primary focus of treatment for Parkinson’s disease is medical in nature whereas, there is need to lay emphasis on improving QoL of individuals which is likely to be deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The predictive role of distressed type D personality on the QoL has not been observed much by previous research studies locally or internationally. The present research did the comparative analysis of individuals with Parkinson Disease and without Parkinson’s disease on distressed personality type and various domains of QoL as well as determined the predictive role of distressed personality type in QoL. In this cross-sectional research a total of 116 individuals participated out of which 58 participants were identified with Parkinson’s disease and 58 without Parkinson’s disease who completed study questionnaires to collect data on demographic variables, Type D personality and Physical, Psychological, Social and Environmental domain of QoL. Findings demonstrated both negative affectivity and social inhibition negatively associate with all domains of QoL. Being a Parkinson’s patient, negative affectivity and social inhibition significantly predict poor psychological, social and environmental QoL There is need to adopt a holistic approach rather than focusing on motor symptoms alone in rehabilitation programs of patients with Parkinson’s disease to minimize the detrimental impact of disease symptoms on the quality of life and daily functioning of these individuals particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.