Abstract
Burnout is characterized by exhaustion, reduced efficacy, and cynicism, affecting about 20% of medical students and impacting their mental health. This study explores the relationship between personality traits, physical activity and burnout among medical students in Pakistan.
In this cross-sectional study, 252 medical students (115 males, 137 females) from major cities were assessed using the international Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Maslach burnout inventory and The Big five inventory for personality traits. Bivariate Pearson correlations and hierarchical linear regression were used to research the relationships between physical activity, burnout, and personality traits followed by moderation analysis of the data. Occupational exhaustion (EE) levels were high in 34.9%, moderate in 31.3%, and low in 33.7%, depersonalization (DP) levels were high in 36.5%, moderate in 35.3%, and low in 28.2% and personal accomplishment (PA) burnout was high in 77.8%, moderate in 11.5%, and low in 10.7%.
Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between personality traits and burnout dimensions. Occupational exhaustion (EE) was positively correlated with neuroticism (r = .518, p < .01) and negatively correlated with extroversion (r = -.244, p < .01) and conscientiousness (r = -.190, p < .01).On the other hand, depersonalization (DP) was positively correlated with neuroticism (r = .340, p < .01) and negatively correlated with agreeableness (r = -.174, p < .01) and conscientiousness (r = -.189, p < .01). Personal accomplishment (PA) was positively correlated with extroversion (r = .267, p < .01), agreeableness (r = .208, p < .01), conscientiousness (r = .382, p < .01), and openness (r = .305, p < .01). Total MET scores had significant positive correlations with all 3 dimensions but regression analysis showed that DP and EE were the most significantly affected. Regression analysis identified neuroticism, extroversion, and total MET as significant predictors for EE while conscientiousness, neuroticism and agreeableness were significant dimensions for DP. PA was influenced by agreeableness, conscientiousness and extroversion.
The findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions that consider individual differences in personality and exercise tolerance as well as the need to start health programs that promote wellbeing within medical students.