Personality traits and health-related behaviors in medical students facing a stressful event

Bibliographic Data

ID22072086
AuthorsJulita Tokarek (0000-0003-4527-3355, Medical University of Lodz), Angelika Kapuścik (University of Lodz), Joanna Kućmierz (0000-0002-2773-2733, Medical University of Lodz), Edward Kowalczyk (0000-0002-2250-6040, Medical University of Lodz), Michał Seweryn Karbownik (0000-0002-4416-2736, Medical University of Lodz, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume11
Pages1256883-1256883
Publication date2023-10-10
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2023.1256883
PMID37900039
OpenAlexW4387500633
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited50

Background It is believed that personality traits have an impact on the propensity to change and maintain favorable lifestyle habits. This issue has been raised by multiple studies, however, none of them appeared to focus on population under severe psychological stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the link between personality traits and health-related behaviors and measures such as dietary intake of specific food products, physical activity, body-mass index and the use of cigarettes in medical students facing a stressful event. Methods The study included a cohort of third-year medical students from the Medical University of Lodz, Poland, facing a stressful subject exam during the first COVID-19-related lockdown. At baseline, personality traits were evaluated with the use of the Polish version of the Big Five Inventory-Short questionnaire. Then, consumption of selected food products was monitored with the use of seven-day electronic dietary record. Also, some other health-related data was collected (body-mass index, physical activity and the use of cigarettes). General Linear Modeling techniques, logistic regression and exploratory factor analysis were applied to analyze the data. Results Four hundred and forty-four students completed the study. A two-factor pattern of food consumption was discovered by the exploratory factor analysis in the study group (34% of the variance explained). Higher conscientiousness, but not the other personality traits, was found to be significantly associated with generally healthier lifestyle manifested by higher consumption of vegetables, wholegrain products, fruits and nuts (adjusted beta 0.16, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.26, pη 2 = 2.3%, p = 0.0015) and lower cigarette smoking (adjusted odds ratio 0.84, 95%CI 0.75 to 0.94, p = 0.0020), but insignificantly with physical activity and body-mass index. Conclusion Severely stressed medical students expressing high conscientiousness tend to present healthier behaviors. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving lifestyle habits in students with low conscientiousness might be useful

Big Five personality traits · Body mass index · Conscientiousness · Environmental health · Extraversion and introversion · Logistic regression · Personality · Population · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medical Education and Admissions · Medicine · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

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