Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: December | Volume: 6 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 102-107
The Big Five Domain: An Insight into the Personality Traits of First Year Medical Students
Pallavi Panchu1, Biju Bahuleyan2, Vineetha Vijayan3, Tom Thomas4
1Associate Professor of Physiology, 2Professor and HOD of Physiology, 3PG student of Department of Physiology, 4Biostatistician of Department of Biostatics,
Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, East Fort, Thrissur-680005, Kerala
Corresponding Author: Pallavi Panchu
ABSTRACT
Background: The blend of cognitive and non cognitive abilities which is also influenced by the personality of an individual helps in the making of an ideal doctor. The personality traits required for a model doctor has not yet been identified. The aim of the study was to identify the prominent personality traits of medical school entrants and to correlate the various personality traits.
Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was done on 92 first year medical students in an Indian medical college. The validated IPIP big five personality questionnaire was administered. The results obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation tests on SPSS version 22.
Results: The students score highest on conscientiousness followed by openness; the least being agreeableness which is statistically significant. Agreeableness and neuroticism were found to be positively correlated significantly with conscientiousness. Neuroticism is negatively correlated with extroversion.
Conclusion: The results of the study show that these students have the ideal combination of personality traits to be successful in the pre clinical years. But this trait combination may not suffice to perform efficiently in the clinical years. Hence, this research highlights the importance of implementing strategies to help the students mould their personalities in order to become ideal doctors.
Key words: big five personality, conscientiousness, neuroticism, agreeableness, ideal doctor, medical student