The Interplay of Personality Factors and Gender and their Correlation with Academic Achievement, Coping Mechanisms and Ego Resilience in MBBS Interns: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Context: Both personality and gender influence academic performance, coping skills, and resilience. Studying these factors together could help identify methods to improve academic achievement, coping mechanisms, and ego resilience. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the correlation of personality factors and gender with academic achievement, coping mechanisms, and ego resilience. Materials and Methods: Online forms were filled out by 112 interns in a government medical college. Sociodemographic details and academic scores were asked. Appropriate questionnaires for personality factors, coping mechanisms, and ego resilience were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 26. Results: Emotional stability had a statistically significant negative correlation with female gender, academic achievement, emotion focused, and avoidant coping. Openness to experiences and emotional stability showed a positive correlation with ego resilience. Gender did not show significant correlations with academics, coping, or resilience, although men were statistically more emotionally stable than women. Conclusion: Emotional stability having majority of the significant correlations may emphasize the relative importance of particular personality dimensions at different times across the lifespan. Males being more emotionally stable may indicate how they are using healthier coping styles and are more resilient compared to their female counterparts.