Inter-relationships between burnout, personality and coping features in residents within an ACGME-I Accredited Psychiatry Residency Program.

Abstract

Burnout during residency training is associated with various factors. Within the context of stress/coping transactional model in which one's personality can influence stress appraisal and coping, there is limited evidence examining the relationship between burnout and personality factors amongst psychiatry residents. We aim to evaluate the prevalence of burnout within a cohort of psychiatry residents and its relationship with personality factors, demographic, work-related factors and coping features. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 50 out of 77 eligible residents (response rate 64.9%) and administered the Oldenberg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Brief COPE Inventory. Burnout was defined as crossing the thresholds for exhaustion (≥2.25) and disengagement (≥2.1) scores. We compared the burnout vs nonburnout groups and examined the relationship between burnout, personality factors and coping strategies using correlational and mediational analyses. Overall, 78% of our cohort met criteria for burnout. Burnout was correlated with hours of work per week (rs=.409, P= .008), neuroticism (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.01-1.43, P= .041) and avoidance coping (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.06-2.46, P= .025). Neuroticism was significantly correlated (all P< .001) with all coping domains (Seeking Social Support, rs=0.40; Problem Solving, rs=0.52; Avoidance, rs=0.55; Positive thinking, rs=0.41) and was a partial mediator between avoidance coping and burnout (β of indirect path=0.168, [SE=0.066]; P= .011). We found a considerable burnout rate amongst psychiatry residents which was associated with neuroticism and avoidance coping, and suggest ways to better tackle occupational burnout during residency training.