Relationship between personality profiles and stress in medical residents

Introduction. Stress is an important disorder that affects the health of world-wide people. Recent evidence indicates that the level of stress is related to specific personality profiles. In particular, medical residents are exposed to high stress levels. Objective. To determine the relationship between personality profiles and stress levels in medical residents. Material and methods. A prospective, transversal, correlational and descriptive study was assembled with 61 medical residents. Two psychological tests were used: 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire and Nowack's stress profile; followed by a psychological interview. Results. 50% of medical residents showed medium to high levels. Correlation analyses indicate that stress is associated with specific personality profiles, such as: C- (low emotional stability; r = -0.337; P = 0.008), H- (shyness; r = -0.313; P = 0.014), O+ (self guiltiness; r = 0.298; P = 0.02) and Q4+ (recklessness; r = 0.474, P = 0.001). Factors H and Q4 were related to high levels of stress. Conclusions. A half of medical residents showed important stress levels. The personality profile C- H- O+ Q4+ describes people with low tolerance to frustration, high concern to be accepted by others, which is associated to inferiority complex and high levels of nervous tension that may affect their professional performance.