Association between personality factors and early employment of mothers in medical undergraduates

Abstract

Background: Personality of an individual can be influenced by a variety of factors, including parenting and mother–child interactions in childhood. Reduced time spent with mother due to early employment of mother can affect the personality development in a positive or negative way. Personality, in turn, can influence academic performance, learning, and coping in Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students. This study aims at exploring the association of mother's employment in the initial period of life and personality traits in MBBS students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care center. Consecutively selected 200 MBBS students of all the academic years were interviewed using a semi-structured pro forma and big five inventory scale. Data were statistically analyzed using mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, and other tests. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mothers of 21% of the students worked during pregnancy, and mothers of 33% of the students started working within the first 6 months of delivery. Significantly, high score of extraversion, agreeableness, and openness was found in students whose mothers started working within the first 6 months of delivery. No significant correlation was found between early employment of mother and scores of neuroticism and conscientiousness. Neuroticism score was higher in final MBBS students, students living away from home, and those staying in nuclear families. Conclusion: Early employment in mother was associated with high extraversion, agreeableness, and openness in MBBS students.

Keywords

• bachelor of medicine
• bachelor of surgery students
• mother's employment
• personality