Investigating the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and personality traits in nurses caring for patients with COVID-19

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect many years of professional practice of nurses and the quality of clinical care. This study aimed to determine the relationship between personality traits and PTSD in nurses in COVID-19 patient care.

We performed this cross-sectional correlational study on 316 nurses who were selected by random sampling method in 1400. The data collection tools in this study are demographic questionnaires, the Personality Traits Scale (NEO-FFI), and Mississippi Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale. Data were analyzed using PSS22 software, by statistical tests of Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficient, Paired-t test, and Wilcoxon tests. 

In this study, 13.3% of the nurses had post-traumatic stress disorder. Between subscales of personality traits with female gender, in the order of suffering (p=0.031), eagerness for new experiences (p=0.001), agreeableness (p=0.001), and age groups in the order of suffering (p=0.001), extroversion-introversion (p=0.02), eagerness for new experiences (p=0.001), agreeableness (p=0.02), history of covid-19 in the order of extroversion-introversion (p=0.05) and agreeableness (p=0.071). A significant difference was observed between PTSD with age groups (p<0.05). The dimension of suffering (r=-0.11 p<0.01), eagerness for new experiences (r=0.98 p<0.01), and agreeableness (r=0.57 p<0.01) had a significant relationship with the total PTSD score. 

 we can control or reduce stress and anxiety by employing nurses with the right personality traits. Developing appropriate training-therapy programs to change and modify personality traits, and training skills to deal with stressful situations is an effective step in reducing PTSD.