Personality predictors and their impact on coping with burnout among students preparing for the nursing and midwifery profession

Abstract

Personality characteristics might be important factors influencing an individual's ability to cope with burnout syndrome. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between personality factors such as self-evaluation and a sense of coherence and burnout syndrome among students of nursing. The study involved a total of 190 university students of the study programme Nursing and Midwifery (average age 20.66±3.01; 98.4% females). Scale Burnout Inventory (SBI) in the school was used for assessing the burnout levels. A Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC) and Rosenberger's Self-Esteem Scale (SES) were used as well. A significant negative relationship was found between burnout syndrome and self-esteem (p≤0.01), as well as sense of coherence (p≤0.01); it means that higher levels of self-esteem and sense of coherence were associated with lower burnout syndrome levels among students. Personality factors are strongly linked to burnout among students. Therefore it is important to observe and guide the students and appropriately utilize their predispositions in the management of the demanding study, as they tend to persist after a period of professional practice. It is therefore considered, that improving the skills of coping with stress among students is beneficial in preventing the subsequent occurrence of burnout in the profession of a nurse.