Association of “Big Five” Personality with Perceived Stress in Medical Postgraduates: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Medical postgraduates are exposed to more time in patient care and thereby higher stress. Personality is one of the important factors associated with stress. Studies exist in profiling personality traits and also assessing stress in medical professionals. However, in India, to the best of our knowledge, there are only few studies linking personality traits with stress in different branches of medicine. Aim : The aim of the study was to study the association between big five personality traits and stress among medical postgraduates. Setting and Design This was a cross-sectional study in medical college. Materials and MethodsBig five inventory, perceived stress scale 14. Statistical Analysis Used Chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance, correlation. Results Personality pattern among postgraduates were low on openness (P = 0.000), neuroticism (P = 0.001), and high agreeableness (P = 0.007) compared to general population. Among the different branches pre-paraclinical branches have low openness (P = 0.004), medical branches have high agreeableness (P = 0.000), low openness (P = 0.000), surgical branches have low openness (P = 0.004), and neuroticism (P = 0.003). Married students have high neuroticism (P = 0.007). Perceived stress is high in all variables compared to general population. Among different subjects of medical sciences, it is significantly high in pre-paraclinical (P = 0.001) and clinical branches (P = 0.001). Negative correlation exists between conscientiousness (r = ?0.233, P = 0.025), extraversion (r = ?0.204, P = 0.050), and positive correlation between neuroticism (r = +0.607, P = 0.000) with perceived stress. Conclusions:Medical postgraduates have low openness, neuroticism, and high agreeableness. Perceived stress is high in medical postgraduates in all demographic variables compared to the general population.

Association of Personality Traits With the Efficacy of Stress Management Interventions for Medical Students Taking Objective Structured Clinical Examinations

“…28 There is growing evidence that these traits are associated with psychophysiological stress in the general population [29][30][31][32][33] and among medical students. [34][35][36][37][38][39] Personality traits seem to modulate the efficacy of various stress management interventions, such as biofeedback and mindfulness interventions. [39][40][41][42] However, the level of evidence for this is insufficient due to low sample sizes (< 200 participants), selection bias due to low participation rates, and a lack of randomized studies.…”

“…In one of the most used models, the 5-factor model, personality is defined by 5 key traits, which are openness to experience (tendency to be creative and unconventional), conscientiousness (tendency to be disciplined and responsible), extraversion (tendency to be outgoing and sociable), agreeableness (tendency to be altruistic and trusting), and neuroticism (tendency to feel negative emotions) 28 . There is growing evidence that these traits are associated with psychophysiological stress in the general population 29–33 and among medical students 34–39 . Personality traits seem to modulate the efficacy of various stress management interventions, such as biofeedback and mindfulness interventions 39–42 .…”