The relationship of psychological health and primary emotional traits in medical students

Abstract

Introduction

Several studies have called for attention to medical students’ well-being. Building on the neuroevolutionary affective neuroscience perspective that views primary emotional systems as central to well-being and the foundation of personality, this study investigated the facets of medical students’ psychological well-being that are challenged and the relationships between emotional traits, psychological well-being, and depression.

Methods

In a single-center cross-sectional study, medical students’ primary emotional traits (SEEKING, FEAR, ANGER, SADNESS, CARE, PLAY and Spirituality), psychological well-being dimensions (autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations, self-acceptance, purpose in life, and personal growth), and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale; the Psychological Well-being Scale, which provides normative data; and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results

Compared with the normative data, the medical students perceived lower psychological autonomy, positive relations, and self-acceptance but higher purpose in life. The medical students’ emotional traits were related to specific psychological well-being facets and depression. SEEKING and, inversely, FEAR were related to well-being across dimensions and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Our findings are the first to show a link between emotional traits and specific facets of psychological health in medical students. Thus, this study encourages medical teachers to set learning environments that target multiple facets of well-being that harness primary emotional traits.

Keywords:

• Depression
• individual differences
• personality
• affective neuroscience
• emotions
• well-being

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all the medical students who voluntarily participated in the present study.

Author contributions

VC and PMR designed the study, collected data, analysed data, and wrote the manuscript. LG and MF reviewed drafts of the paper and approved the final draft. All authors approved the final manuscript for submission.

Disclosure statement

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

Glossary

Primary emotional traits: Emotional-behavioral dispositions emerging from neuroevolutionary ancient brain emotional systems.

Neuroevolutionary Affective Neuroscience: A scientific discipline that studies the emotional feelings of the brain. Affective neuroscience research ranges from the identification of primary emotional systems, their brain network organizations, related neurochemistry, and behavioral dispositions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Valentina Colonnello

Valentina Colonnello, PhD, LMHC, is Assistant Professor at Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy.

Gloria Leonardi

Gloria Leonardi, LMHC, is a psychotherapist at Santa Viola Hospital, Colibrì Consortium, 40133, Bologna, Italy.

Marina Farinelli

Marina Farinelli, MD, LMHC, leads the Clinical Psychology Service at Villa Bellombra Rehabilitation Hospital, Colibrì Consortium, 40136, Bologna, Italy.

Paolo M. Russo

Paolo Maria Russo, PhD, is Full Professor at Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy.