The Relationship between Personality Traits with Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study at One Medical School in Germany

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Jul 11;15(7):1462. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15071462.

Abstract

Medical students are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. Certain personality traits may be associated with elevated vulnerability to study-related stress and poor mental health. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between such personality traits and mental health outcomes among medical students. We drew on cross-sectional data from 251 medical students who had been enrolled for one-year at a medical school in Germany. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and suicidal ideation was assessed by item 9 from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Personality traits were captured using the Business-Focused Inventory of Personality 6 Factors (BIP-6F). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to quantify the associations between work-related personality factors and mental health outcomes, controlling for demographic and social factors. Odds ratios (ORs) as outcome measures with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used. After controlling for important confounders, medical students who scored highly on Stability had lower odds of depressive symptoms (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.09⁻0.42, p < 0.001) and suicidality (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16⁻0.87, p < 0.05) than those with high scores in other work-related personality factors. Findings also showed that those who scored highly on Dominance had greater odds of depressive symptoms (OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.22⁻4.97), p < 0.01). Work-related personality-informed interventions, which promote students' mental well-being and reduce academic stress should be considered at various stages of their medical training.

Keywords: academic stress; depressive symptoms; medical students; mental health; personality traits; suicidal ideation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / physiopathology*
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health
  • Personality*
  • Schools, Medical*
  • Students, Medical / psychology*
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Young Adult