Inter-relationships between burnout, personality and coping features in residents within an ACGME-I Accredited Psychiatry Residency Program.

Background: Burnout during residency training is associated with various factors. Within the context of stress/coping transactional model in which one's personality can influence stress appraisal and coping, there is limited evidence examining the relationship between burnout and personality factors amongst psychiatry residents.

Objectives: We aim to evaluate the prevalence of burnout within a cohort of psychiatry residents and its relationship with personality factors, demographic, work-related factors and coping features.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 50 out of 77 eligible residents (response rate 64.9%) and administered the Oldenberg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Brief COPE Inventory. Burnout was defined as crossing the thresholds for exhaustion (≥2.25) and disengagement (≥2.1) scores. We compared the burnout vs nonburnout groups and examined the relationship between burnout, personality factors and coping strategies using correlational and mediational analyses.

Results: Overall, 78% of our cohort met criteria for burnout. Burnout was correlated with hours of work per week (rs = .409, P = .008), neuroticism (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.01-1.43, P = .041) and avoidance coping (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.06-2.46, P = .025). Neuroticism was significantly correlated (all P < .001) with all coping domains (Seeking Social Support, rs = 0.40; Problem Solving, rs = 0.52; Avoidance, rs = 0.55; Positive thinking, rs = 0.41) and was a partial mediator between avoidance coping and burnout (β of indirect path = 0.168, [SE = 0.066]; P = .011).

Conclusions: We found a considerable burnout rate amongst psychiatry residents which was associated with neuroticism and avoidance coping, and suggest ways to better tackle occupational burnout during residency training.