Neuroticism among medical students at a federal public university: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Neuroticism is a personality dimension characterized by an individual's tendency to experience negative emotions. Individuals with high levels of neuroticism are more likely to experience emotional distress and mental illness. Objective: To evaluate levels of neuroticism, including its facets, among medical students at a federal public university and compare them to groups in the general population. Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study. A total of 317 medical students from a federal university in Brazil, participated; 171 (53.94%) were female and 146 (46.06%) were male. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Revised Neuroticism Factor Scale were applied for collection between February and June 2021. Data analysis procedures were performed using SPSS. Student t-tests for one and independent samples were applied for gender comparison. Results: The sample means, categorized by gender, were compared with the population means presented in the technical manual of the test. Higher scores were evident in neuroticism and the facets of vulnerability, embarrassment, impulsivity, and anxiety/preoccupation when compared to the baseline study. Both genders were also found to have higher levels of embarrassment and anxiety/concern, and males also showed higher scores on neuroticism, vulnerability, and impulsivity. In the comparison test between genders, higher scores were observed in females for neuroticism and depression, vulnerability, embarrassment, and anxiety/concern. Conclusion: Given the above, the need for psychological support for medical students is reinforced, for both genders, given the professional specificities in which they are immersed. Moreover, identifying the protective factors is an essential prerequisite for the design of health promotion interventions.