Researchers Explain What Biting Your Nails Says About Your Personality

Do you find yourself biting your fingernails throughout the day? If so, you're not alone. It's estimated that about one-third of adults continue to bite their nails.

Have you ever considered the psychology behind nail-biting? Commonly, it's seen as a sign of nervousness and anxiety.

This perspective seems logical, but it might not be the complete picture. A study in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry suggests that nail-biting could indicate perfectionism.

Psychology Today defines perfectionism as "an endless report card on accomplishments or looks. It's a fast track to unhappiness and is often accompanied by depression."

This article will briefly explore the study and what it means for those who bite their nails. We'll also examine nail-biting from a health standpoint.

WHAT YOUR NAIL-BITING HABIT SAYS ABOUT YOU

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) are "repetitive, injurious, and non-functional habits that cause significant distress or impairment, including hair-pulling, skin-picking, and nail-biting."

Researchers aimed to compare the propensity for BFRBs using two frameworks: emotional regulation (ER) and frustrated action (FA).

The ER model suggests that BFRBs are initiated by negative emotions and the relief of unpleasant effects. Conversely, the FA model proposes that BFRBs are both triggered by and relieve feelings of impatience, boredom, frustration, and dissatisfaction.

Researchers theorized that individuals prone to BFRBs might be more inclined to follow the FA model, as they "exhibit maladaptive planning styles marked by high standards and a reluctance to relax," traits commonly associated with perfectionists.

RESULTS

In a study comparing a 'BFRB group' to a control group, with 24 and 23 participants respectively, researchers affirmed their hypothesis. The study yielded three key findings:

(1) The BFRB group experienced a significantly stronger compulsion to engage in BFRBs than the control group in various conditions.

(2) Participants with BFRBs felt a notably stronger urge to engage in BFRBs in environments of boredom/frustration and stress compared to those of relaxation.

(3) Notably, the BFRB group "scored significantly higher on maladaptive planning style, which was closely linked to difficulties in ER."

THE STUDY AND PERFECTIONISM

Dr. Kieron O’Connor, the study's lead author, remarked, "We believe that individuals exhibiting these repetitive behaviors might be perfectionists, which means they struggle to relax and perform tasks at a standard pace. As a result, they are susceptible to feelings of frustration, impatience, and dissatisfaction when their objectives are not met."

Put differently, nail-biting might be less associated with nervousness and anxiety and more with frustration. This insight, coupled with the study's established connection between nail-biting and perfectionistic characteristics such as impatience, boredom, and dissatisfaction, further supports the notion that perfectionism could be a driving force behind nail-biting.

NAIL-BITING AND HEALTH

The study confirms that nail-biting is categorized as a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB), a view supported by most medical professionals. BFRB-related behaviors are detrimental to health, with nail-biting being no different.

According to WebMD, nail-biting can lead to both physical and emotional issues. The physical complications from nail-biting include:

• Pain and inflammation of the nails and surrounding skin
• Risk of bleeding and infection near the nails
• Greater susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections due to finger-to-mouth contact
• Damage to tooth enamel
• Misalignment of teeth
• Negative perceptions from others due to the appearance of bitten nails or the act of biting in public

On a psychological level, WebMD links nail-biting to feelings of anxiety and stress, and it may be a symptom of a deeper psychological issue like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Perfectionism is also seen as a contributing factor to OCD.

Nail-biting is a widespread but harmful habit, often exacerbated by negative emotions and possible underlying psychological conditions.

While being labeled a perfectionist might initially seem flattering, it is actually a very unhealthy mental state. Research has associated perfectionism with a wide range of psychological issues, including personality disorders, eating disorders, social anxiety, social phobia, body dysmorphic disorder, self-harm, substance abuse, and clinical depression. 

Perfectionists are also prone to chronic stress disorders and have a higher risk of heart-related conditions. 

The link between nail-biting and perfectionism warrants further investigation. Although the study had a relatively small sample size, the correlation between perfectionistic tendencies and nail-biting appears to be significant.

Source: powerofpositivity