Reviewer’ s report
Title: Type D personality and metabolic syndrome among Finnish female municipal workers
Version: 0Date: 14 Dec 2019
Reviewer: Ada H. Zohar
Reviewer's report:
A review of "Type D personality and metabolic syndrome among Finnish female municipal
workers"
Introduction
I find the rationale for the present study not convincing. There is a meta-analysis (Momersteeg andPouwer, 2012) finding no relationship between personality and Mets which contains the followingstatement:"There was no clear association between personality measures and the occurrence anddevelopment of the metabolic syndrome".As far as I can see it is not referenced in the manuscript.Surely the introduction should start from the conclusions of the meta-analysis and present thereasons for conducting the current study.
Methods
The response rate for the municipal workers approached was under 50%. There should be someanalysis to show if there was any relevant bias introduced by the selective response. Although it is
mentioned in the Limitations paragraph of the Discussion, there is no attempt to analyze the
implications of this potential bias.The instrument and measures were suitable to the study goals and well described.The statistical procedures were suitable and relevant.
Results
The prevalence of Type D personality was very low in this sample. I looked for a prevalenceestimate of Type D within the Finnish population and didn't find a relevant study. If there is such astudy the authors are aware of, they should definitely compare the rate within their sample to thenational rate. And again, it is important to discuss in the Discussion; it may be a selection bias justlike the low rate of psychiatric disorders found, and it might be a national characteristic.
Discussion
It is hard to write an interesting discussion when the results are basically negative; however, it isimportant to do so. I suggest that together with rethinking the rationale of the study (see notes onintroduction) the authors should consider more deeply and write more compellingly about theimplications of their results.
Minor Points
I encountered some awkward language and some typos.
The editor of this site does not allow me to present "track changes" so I send no examples, butthere are many such in the text. I suggest the entire manuscript is line-edited by a native Englishspeaker.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
NoAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
NoAre you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being publishedDeclaration of competing interests
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