A Review of Longitudinal Studies Assessing Personality and Burnout

Abstract

Burnout is generally conceptualised as the consequence of precipitating work stressors. However, most psychiatric conditions are best captured by an interaction between predisposing factors and environmental stressors (i.e., a diathesis-stress model). As some studies have implicated certain personality traits as risk factors to burnout the current review sought to identify salient ones by evaluating published longitudinal studies. Three databases were subjected to a literature search using keywords relating to personality, burnout and longitudinal studies. This literature search yielded 59 eligible studies assessing 18 personality traits. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and key findings extracted. Two personality traits - neuroticism and perfectionistic concerns – emerged as candidates increasing risk. In addition, we identified several personality characteristics that appear to lower the risk of burnout. Findings have the potential to advance causal theorising by highlighting the aetiological contribution of personality as a diathesis factor, which may have distinct implications for the management of burnout.