The Relationship between Personality, Motivation and Academic Performance at Medical Students from Romania

The academic and health system requirements are constantly growing due to the continuous development of this sector. Therefore, it is important to investigate the structural factors that improve performance in the medical system. The aim of our pilot study is to analyze if there are associations or correlations between personality and motivation and the results obtained for the National Residency Exam of Romanian medical graduates. We conducted a prospective pilot study on 179 medical students from George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania between February 2021 and December 2021, who were evaluated by the DECAS, IM, and SPM scale. Our results showed that all the dimensions of personality according to the Big Five Model, which include openness (OR = 0.392, p = 0.01), extraversion (OR = 0.512, p = 0.03), conscientiousness (OR = 3.671, p = 0.004), agreeableness (OR = 2.791, p = 0.07), and emotional stability (OR = 4.863, p = 0.0003), are statistically associated with the result obtained. Motivation also plays an important role in academic achievements, through motivational persistence and motivational involvement which correlates with the conscientiousness dimension and the result obtained. This study confirms that both personality structure and motivation are associated or correlated with the academic results of medical students and represent a starting point for future research.

Examining sex differences in DSM-IV-TR narcissistic personality disorder symptom expression using Item Response Theory (IRT)

The limited published literature on the subject suggests that there may be differences in how females and males experience narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) symptoms. The aim of this study was to use methods based on item response theory to examine whether, when equating for levels of NPD symptom severity, there are sex differences in the likelihood of reporting DSM-IV-TR NPD symptoms. We conducted these analyses using a large, nationally representative sample from the USA (n=34,653), the second wave of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). There were statistically and clinically significant sex differences for 2 out of the 9 DSM-IV-TR NPD symptoms. We found that males were more likely to endorse the item 'lack of empathy' at lower levels of narcissistic personality disorder severity than females. The item 'being envious' was a better indicator of NPD severity in males than in females. There were no clinically significant sex differences on the remaining NPD symptoms. Overall, our findings indicate substantial sex differences in narcissistic personality disorder symptom expression. Although our results may reflect sex-bias in diagnostic criteria, they are consistent with recent views suggesting that narcissistic personality disorder may be underpinned by shared and sex-specific mechanisms.

Personality correlates of passive-aggressiveness: a NEO-PI-R domain and facet analysis of the HDS Leisurely scale

BACKGROUND

This study looked at the relationship between "bright-side" and "dark-side" personality variables by focusing on the controversial trait of Passive-Aggressiveness. Around 4800 British adults completed the NEO-PI-R which measures the Big Five Personality factors at the Domain and the Facet level, as well as the Hogan Development Survey (HDS) which has a measure of Passive-Aggressiveness called Leisurely.

AIM

To determine to what extent the well-established Big Five traits measured at both domain and facet level can account for the variance in a measure of passive-aggressiveness.

FINDINGS

Correlations and regressions indicated that Leisurely individuals are introverted, closed-minded Neurotics, with particular needs for order and deliberation. Neuroticism facets accounted for most of the variance. Overall, the Big Five measured at Domain and Facet level accounted for relatively small amounts of variance, suggesting the divergent validity of this measure of PAPD.

CONCLUSIONS

This scale measures something that is not captured by comprehensive taxonomies of personality. Limitations and implications for clinical practice are noted.

A Big Five Facet Analysis of a Paranoid Personality Disorder

Abstract. Around 4,100 British adults completed the NEO-PI-R ( Costa & McCrae, 1985 ), which measures the Big Five Personality factors at the Domain and the Facet level, as well as the Hogan Development Survey ( Hogan & Hogan, 2009 ) measure of Paranoid Personality Disorder called Sceptical. This study sought to validate this measure by comparing NEO facet correlational results with other studies. The Sceptical score from the HDS was the criterion variable in the correlations and multiple regressions. Sceptical people were Disagreeable, Neurotic, and Conscientious. Facet analysis showed them low on Trust, Compliance, and Straightforwardness but high on Depression and Angry Hostility. Limitations of the study are discussed.

A bright side, facet analysis of histrionic personality disorder: the relationship between the HDS Colourful factor and the NEO-PI-R facets in a large adult sample

This study looks at "bright-side," Big Five Personality trait correlates of a "dark-side" Personality Disorder, namely Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD). More than 5000 British adults completed the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Personality Inventory-Revised (Costa & McCrae, 1985), which measures the Big Five Personality factors at the Domain (Super Factor) and the Facet (Factor) level, as well as the Hogan Development Survey (HDS; Hogan & Hogan, 2009), which has a measure of HPD, exclusively called "Colourful" in the HDS terminology. Correlation and regression results confirmed many of the associations between these "bright" and "dark" side individual difference variables. The Colourful (HPD) score from the HDS was the criterion variable in all analyses. Colourful individuals are high on Extraversion and Openness, but also Stable and disagreeable. The Facet analysis identified Assertiveness and Immodesty as particularly characteristic of that type. The study confirmed work on HPD using different population groups and different measures, showing that personality traits are predictable and correlated with various personality disorders.

A bright side facet analysis of borderline personality disorder

BACKGROUND

This study looks at the "bright-side" normal, personality trait correlates of the "dark-side" Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

METHODS

Over 5000 British adults completed the NEO-PI-R which measures the Big Five Personality factors at the Domain and the Facet level, as well as the Hogan Development Survey which has a measure of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) called Excitable.

RESULTS

Correlation and regression results confirmed many of the associations between these "bright" and "dark" side individual difference variables. The Excitable score from the HDS was the criterion variable in all analyses. Excitable individuals are high on Neuroticism, but also Introverted and Disagreeable. The facet analysis identified Angry Hostility, Anxiety, Depression and Vulnerability as particularly characteristic of that type.

CONCLUSIONS

The study confirmed work on BPD using different population groups and different measures, showing that it is possible to describe personality disorders in terms of extreme scores on personality traits.