Tolerance of ambiguity, perfectionism and resilience are associated with personality profiles of medical students oriented to rural practice

Abstract

Purpose: Resilience, coping with uncertainty and learning from mistakes are vital characteristics for all medical disciplines – particularly rural practice. Levels of coping constructs were examined in medical students with and without a rural background or an interest in rural practice.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys identified two personality profiles, and their association with levels of Tolerance of Ambiguity, Resilience, Perfectionism-High Standards and Concern over mistakes as constructs indicative of coping. Medical students (N = 797) were stratified by rural background and degree of rural interest. Mediation analysis tested the effect of personality profile on levels of the coping constructs.

Results: More (72%) rural background students had Profile 1 which was associated with higher levels of Tolerance of Ambiguity, High standards, and Resilience, but lower Concern over mistakes. Non-rural background students reporting a strong rural interest also had Profile 1 (64%) and similar levels of coping constructs. Personality profile mediated the association between rural interest and levels of coping constructs regardless of background.

Conclusions: Having a rural background or strong rural interest are associated with a personality profile that indicates a better capacity for coping. Personality may play a part in an individual’s interest in rural practice. Rural workforce initiatives through education should encourage and nurture students with a genuine interest in rural practice – regardless of background.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Glossary

Psychobiological theory of personality (biopsychosocial approach): The theory of personality in which the individual is viewed as an integrated unit, incorporating psychological, social, and biological functions that adapt to changes in environmental context. The theory distinguishes between the dimensions of temperament and character. While temperament and character are considered independent, they are each multidimensional and functionally interactive.

Temperament traits: Traits that represent the emotional core of personality. They are moderately heritable (i.e. genetic, biological), and developmentally stable across the lifespan. The four temperament traits are: Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence, and Persistence.

Character traits: Traits that represent the cognitive core of personality. They develop across the lifespan through socio-cultural learning and environmental influences. The three character traits are: Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness, and Self-Transcendence.

Notes on contributors

Diann S. Eley, MSc, PhD, is Associate Professor and Director of MD Research in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Queensland, Australia.

Janni K. Leung, PhD, is a Research Academic at the Policy and Epidemiology Group, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Australia.

Narelle Campbell, PhD, Academic Lead, Engagement and Social Accountability, NT Medical Program, Flinders University, Australia.

C. Robert Cloninger, MD, PhD, is the Wallace Renard Professor of Psychiatry and Director, Center for Psychobiology of Personality, Washington University in St Louis, School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.