Type D personality and quality of life among polish university students: a cross-sectional study

Type D personality has been linked to poorer psychosocial functioning and selected somatic conditions, yet evidence in student populations remains limited. This study examined associations between Type D personality traits and quality of life among Polish university students, and explored whether negative affectivity and social inhibition show domain-specific patterns. We conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous online survey among students in Poland. Type D personality was assessed using the DS-14, and quality of life using the WHOQOL-BREF. Participants reported clinician-diagnosed anxiety or depressive disorders and provided sociodemographic data. A total of 364 questionnaires were analyzed (60.2% women; age range: 19–41 years). Type D criteria were met by 50.5% of participants in this sample. Students classified as Type D reported lower quality of life across all WHOQOL-BREF domains (physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment). Self-reported anxiety and depressive disorders were more frequent in this group. In multivariable analyses, Type D personality remained associated with lower quality of life across all domains, while anxiety and/or depression showed domain-specific associations. In this student sample, Type D personality traits were common and consistently associated with lower multidimensional quality of life. These findings highlight the potential relevance of Type D traits for identifying students with poorer perceived well-being in academic settings.