The relationship between burnout, personality traits, and medical specialty. A national study among Dutch residents

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the associations between residents’ personality traits, type of specialty, and symptoms of burnout.

Method: A cross-sectional online survey among Dutch residents was conducted (see Supplementary Material). The 20-item Dutch translation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to ascertain burnout. Personality traits were assessed with the 44-item Dutch Big Five Inventory. Logistic regression analyses, including all five personality traits, were used to assess associations with burnout. Analyses were stratified by specialties.

Results: One thousand two hundred thirty one residents participated, 185 (15.0%) of whom met the criteria for burnout. Neuroticism was significantly associated with resident burnout in all specialties, more strongly in supportive (odds ratio (OR) 6.19, 95% CI 2.12–18.12) and surgical (OR 4.37, 95% CI 1.76–10.86) than in medical residents (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.22–3.24). Extraversion was significantly associated with less burnout in surgical residents (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.13–0.58). These findings remained highly significant after controlling for gender, overtime, autonomy at work, satisfaction between work and private life, and the perceived quality of the learning environment.

Conclusions: Burnout risk was associated with personality traits in residents. Consistently, residents scoring high on neuroticism reported more burnout. Extraverted surgical residents were less susceptible to burnout. Residents scoring high on neuroticism may require more intense monitoring during their training years.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Dutch Junior Doctor Association (DJS) for supporting the distribution of the questionnaire and all medical residents who participated in this survey.

Disclosure statement

All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf and have nothing to declare. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Glossary

Burnout: Is defined as: “a prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job, described by three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment”.

Personality: Is defined as a set of psychological traits and mechanisms within the individual. These characteristics are relatively stable and they influence how we interact and adapt to the environment.

Additional information

Funding

This study has been unrestrictedly supported by “Stichting SWG” and “CarriereCentrum Zorg” (Utrecht, The Netherlands).

Notes on contributors

David J. Prins

David J. Prins, MD, PhD candidate, is a resident doctor in pulmonology at the Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands and currently conducts research on resident’s mental wellbeing.

Stefan N. van Vendeloo

Stefan N. van Vendeloo, MD, PhD candidate, is an orthopedic surgeon at the Isala Hospital, Zwolle, The Netherlands.

Paul L. P. Brand

Paul L. P. Brand, MD, PhD, is a professor of clinical medical education at Postgraduate School of Medicine UMCG, Groningen, The Netherlands and the dean of medical education and faculty development at Isala Hospital, Zwolle, The Netherlands.

Inge Van der Velpen

Inge van der Velpen, MD, is a fertility doctor at the Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Kim de Jong

Kim de Jong, PhD, is an epidemiologist at the Department of Epidemiology, MCL Academy, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.

Fleur van den Heijkant

Fleur van den Heijkant, MD, is a resident doctor in urology at the Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Frank M. M. A. Van der Heijden

Frank M. M. A. van der Heijden, MD, PhD, is a psychiatrist and director of the residency training in the Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands.

Jelle T. Prins

Jelle T. Prins, PhD, is a Dean at the MCL Academy, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.