Personality Traits as Potential Predictors of Psychological Well-Being among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Psychological well-being (PWB) is a multidimensional construct that may be influenced by individual differences in personality. However, relatively little is known about how the Big Five personality traits (PTs) relate to the distinct dimensions of PWB among medical students. The aim is to examine the associations of the Big Five PTs with global and dimension-specific PWB, and to determine their incremental and unique contributions beyond sociodemographic characteristics. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study, was conducted among 100 undergraduate medical students. The Big Five PTs were assessed using the 50-item International Personality Item Pool (50-IPIP), and PWB was assessed using 42-item Ryff’s (42-Ryff) multidimensional framework, comprising six dimensions: self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. The participants also filled a sociodemographic proforma. Data were analysed using Pearson’s correlation and two-step hierarchical multiple linear regression to determine the incremental contribution of personality beyond sociodemographic characteristics and the unique associations of individual traits with global and dimension-specific PWB. Results: Female students scored significantly higher (P<0.01) than male students on agreeableness and positive relations with others. PTs accounted for a significant increment in variance across all six dimensions (ΔR² = 0.317–0.503, all P < 0.001), though the dominant predictor differed by dimension: conscientiousness for environmental mastery (β = 0.471) and purpose in life (β = 0.344), agreeableness for positive relations with others (β = 0.505), openness to experience for autonomy (β = 0.340), and neuroticism for personal growth (β = -0.331), and self-acceptance (β = -0.375). Conscientiousness showed no association with personal growth and positive relations. For the total score, sociodemographic variables accounted for 3.2% of variance, rising to 67.7% with addition of PTs (ΔR² = 0.645; F change (5, 92) = 36.70, P < 0.001) neuroticism being the strongest unique correlate (β = −0.407). Conclusion: Personality is meaningfully associated with PWB among medical students, with distinct traits showing different patterns of association across PWB dimensions. The broad association of neuroticism and the more selective associations of the other traits highlight the value of examining PWB multidimensionally rather than solely as a global construct. These findings may inform approaches to supporting medical student well-being that consider individual differences in personality alongside specific domains of psychological functioning.

Keywords: Big Five, medical students, personality traits, psychological well-being, Ryff scales.