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Personality, self-esteem, stress, and satisfaction among Texas dentists
1Department of Practice Relation and Management, Dental Branch, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
Texas Dental Journal
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Dentist personality styles impact well-being. Practical, risk-taking dentists (Patterns VII and V) reported higher satisfaction and coping skills than theoretical dentists (Patterns III and IV).
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Dental Professional Well-being
Background:
- Dentistry demands specific personality traits for professional success and satisfaction.
- Understanding personality-dentist compatibility can inform career choices and retention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dentist personality styles and professional well-being.
- To identify personality profiles most and least compatible with the dental profession.
Main Methods:
- A study of 218 Texas dentists utilized the Bi/Polar Inventory of Core Strengths.
- Dentists were categorized into eight distinct personality profiles.
Main Results:
- Dentists with practical, risk-taking profiles (Patterns VII and V) exhibited higher self-esteem, stress coping abilities, and job satisfaction.
- These practical profiles also showed lower psychological distress and a greater likelihood of choosing dentistry again.
- Thinking, theoretical profiles (Patterns III and IV) reported lower well-being indicators compared to practical profiles.
Conclusions:
- Certain personality styles, particularly practical and risk-taking ones, appear more compatible with dentistry.
- A practical orientation may be the most significant trait for dental career compatibility.
- Findings have implications for dental school admissions, career counseling, and supporting dentists experiencing dissatisfaction.