Type D personality assessment, 14 items measuring Negative Affectivity and Social Inhibition.

Is your personality affecting your health?

Type D personality (the "D" stands for "distressed") is characterized by two traits: negative affectivity (tendency to experience negative emotions) and social inhibition (tendency to inhibit self-expression in social interactions). The DS14 measures both.

What Type D means

  • Negative affectivity — worry, irritability, gloom
  • Social inhibition — reticence, lack of assertiveness, discomfort in social situations
Someone with Type D personality experiences negative emotions frequently but doesn't express them — they keep things inside.

About this scale

Johan Denollet developed the DS14 in 1998 to study the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health. It's widely used in health psychology and cardiology.

Research shows that Type D personality is associated with:

  • Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Poorer outcomes after heart attack
  • Higher mortality
  • Lower quality of life
Type D is not a disorder — it's a personality pattern. But recognizing it can help you manage stress and seek support when needed.

Result Interpretation

After completing the 14 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:

  • Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
  • Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
  • Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available

All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.