Exploring paramedicine student preferences using Holland's vocational theory: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Holland's RIASEC typology is a classification of vocational personality types and work environments. Having a predisposition for their vocation, in terms of a personality that is congruent to their work environment, may be protective for paramedics with regards to both their mental and physical health. The purpose of this study was to identify paramedicine students' vocational preference according to Holland's RIASEC model. Bachelor of Paramedicine degree students in the three different year levels completed the 48-item Brief RIASEC Marker Scales to determine their order of the six RIASEC personality types. In this study, the paramedicine students' three most dominant personality types were Social-Investigative-Artistic, differing from the defined Holland Occupational Code for paramedics of Realistic-Social-Investigative.Male students scored significantly higher on the Reality personality type, whereas female students scored significantly higher on the Social personality type. Overall, this study found many students to possess two of the three dominant personality traits that form the desired Holland code for paramedics. This suggests that many students may be better able to cope with the demands of the paramedicine profession upon employment.

Personality and vocational interest typologies associated with better coping and resilience in paramedicine: A review of two models

“…However, an extensive search of the literature by way of a scoping review by Mason, Roodenburg and Williams 49 failed to locate any empirical research that relates the RIASEC model to paramedicine specifically, let alone connecting it with their wellbeing. 49–51 This review was intentionally undertaken to determine which Holland code is more dominant among nurses and paramedics with implications for wellbeing.…”

Personality differences among college students according to their career and level of satisfaction

“…For example, in a study that analyzed the personality traits that determine vocational choice in students of different careers at the business school through the application of a survey to 392 university students from northern Mexico did not find a defined profile for each business school degree; however, found that the entrepreneurship attribute was a substantial similarity among the students in the sample (Farías-Martínez et al, 2016). Similarly, (van Huizen, Mason, & Williams, 2021), based on Holland's vocational model, found that the average personality type of a sample of paramedicine students did not match the profile proposed by the model for this career. Although on average, the students coincided in two of the three traits indicated by Holland's profile, this was only the case for some of them.…”