Avoidance, Reward Dependence, Persistence, Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness and Self-Transcendence. Each trait is multifaceted. Analysis: Multiple ...
Personality Traits Of Australian Medical And Nursing Students: Does Self-Transcendence Differ? 1Diann 1The
S Eley PhD and
University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Australia,
1,2Robert
2The
M Eley PhD
Centre for Rural & Remote Area Health, University of Southern Queensland
BACKGROUND: Personality research has provided insight into the dominant traits and personality profiles of most health professions – in particular medicine. However research on nurses is sparse. Looking at students’ temperament and character from two separate but mutually integral professions may add to a greater understanding of individuals who are attracted to, and the traits that are conducive to, those disciplines. METHODS: A cross sectional cohort design used quantitative methods. Participants: Medical and nursing students in all years of their undergraduate degree at Queensland universities. Measures: A demographic questionnaire and the 1 Temperament and Character Inventory [TCI-R 140] to identify levels of temperament and character; Novelty Seeking , Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence, Persistence, Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness and Self-Transcendence. Each trait is multifaceted. Analysis: Multiple comparisons between group TCI scores and other demographic variables (two-way ANOVA).
DISCUSSION: While both medical and nursing students portray temperament and character trait levels that are expected of health professionals and were [2, 3] congruent with established gender trends, the unexpected finding was that nursing students were higher in levels of Self-Transcendence even after controlling for sex. RESULTS: Sample size = 567; medical students (n=271), nursing students (n=296). The majority were female (n=434), 20-29 years of age (n=359; 63%). Nurse sample majority were female (n=271; 92%) compared to medical student sample (n=163; 60%). TCI scores were normally distributed. The whole sample were highly Self Directed and Persistent with high levels of curiosity and confidence (Novelty Seeking). Nursing students were higher in Reward Dependence [t (528) = 2.759, p = .006] and Self-Transcendence [t (528) = 5.406, p < .001]. Analysis by sex showed that all females were higher in Harm Avoidance [t (527) = 3.381, p = .001], Reward Dependence [t (527) = 4.169, p < .001], Cooperativeness [t (527) = 2.703, p = .007] and Self -Transcendence [t (527) = 2.685, p = .007] compared to all males. Two-way ANOVA showed no interaction but main effects for sex in all TCI dimensions except in Self Transcendence which showed as significant main effect for group; [F = 21.97 (1, 526), p < .001].
As a character trait Self-Transcendence measures one’s awareness of being an integral part of the world around them. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, describes Self- Transcendence as seeking to ‘further a cause beyond the self’, which might involve ‘service to others and devotion to an ideal’. People who rate highly tend to be caring, unpretentious, spiritual and selfless; descriptors which often depict many of the ‘stereotypical’ reasons to pursue nursing. [4] Preliminary findings imply that different profiles of specific traits can be identified in individuals from various disciplines and may provide an adjunct to career guidance by providing the finer points about the professional and personal requisites of each health discipline. 1. Cloninger, C.R, et al. Archives of General Psychiatry 1993; 50: 975-990. 2. Eley DS, et al Journal of Clinical Nursing 2010; 20: 563–570. 3. Vaidya NA, et al. Teaching and Learning in Medicine 2004; 16: 150–156. 4. Eley DS, et al Journal of Advanced Nursing 2012; 68(7), 1546–1555
Why Did I Become A Nurse? Personality Traits and Reasons For Entering Nursing 1Diann 1The
S Eley PhD and
1,2Robert
M Eley PhD
University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Australia, 2The Centre for Rural & Remote Area Health, University of Southern Queensland
BACKGROUND: The long held stereotype, that nursing is the ‘caring profession’ has primarily anecdotal support. Few empirical studies have investigated the personal traits which may be associated with this portrayal. The study explored the association between personality traits of nurses and their reasons for entering nursing. The research question was, ‘are the reasons individuals enter nursing congruent with their general personality trait profile?’
RESULTS: Levels of TCI dimensions were not different between nurses and students. Compared to population norms the sample rank ‘very high’ in Reward Dependence, Persistence, Cooperativeness and Self-Directedness, ‘high’ in Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance, and average in SelfTranscendence. Reasons for entering nursing provided two dominant themes; •opportunity for caring •my vocation in life
METHOD: A mixed method sequential explanatory design employed semi-structured interviews the Temperament and 1 Character Inventory [TCI-R140] to identify levels of the seven basic dimensions of temperament and character; Novelty Seeking , Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence, Persistence, Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness and Self-Transcendence. Participants: Registered nurses (n=12) and nursing students (n=11) working and studying in Queensland Australia. Analysis: Chi square, T-tests and two-way ANOVA described and compared groups. Thematic content analysis of individual interviews was interpreted alongside corresponding TCI trait profiles. TEMPERAMENT NS: Novelty Seeking HA: Harm Avoidance RD: Reward Dependence PS: Persistence CHARACTER SD: Self-Directness CO: Cooperativeness ST: Self-Transcendence
“I can’t go on in a job where you aren’t allowed to care. In nursing you are still allowed to care” “To be a good nurse they have to be caring. Beyond that it really doesn’t matter, there is room for a lot of different personalities in nursing, but they do have to care”.
High Scorers exploratory, curious worrying, pessimistic sentimental, attached industrious, diligent
Low Scorers indifferent, detached relaxed, confident practical, detached inactive, indolent
responsible, reliable tolerant, empathic humble, patient
blaming, unreliable intolerant, critical impatient, lack of humility
The reasons for entering nursing were congruent with individual’s levels of specific innate (temperament) and developmental (character) traits. Combined data portray this sample as caring, helpful, sociable, preferring team work and very high in levels of heritable traits that exude empathy, a caring nature and altruistic ideals (e.g. Reward Dependence and Cooperativeness) CONCLUSIONS: Recruitment and retention strategies in nursing need to be cognisant of the ‘caring impetus’ which draws people to nursing in the first place, and then contributes to them remaining in the profession. Strategies need to be cognisant of the fact that the prime impetus for entering the nursing profession remains the opportunity to care for others. 1Cloninger,
C.R, et al. Archives of General Psychiatry 1993, 50: 975-990
