Exploring Valued Personality Traits in Practicing Veterinarians

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Psychology
• Human-Animal Interactions

Background:

• Understanding personality trait preferences in veterinarians is crucial for effective client-veterinarian relationships.
• Previous research has not extensively explored how different groups perceive desired personality traits in veterinary professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differences in valued Big Five personality traits of small animal veterinarians between veterinary community members and clients.
• To identify age-related variations in personality trait preferences for veterinarians.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to veterinary clients and professionals in a US midwestern state (Fall 2019-Spring 2020).
• Participants rated the importance of Big Five personality characteristics in a veterinarian using Likert scale items.
• Data were analyzed using Spearman's correlations and Kruskal-Wallis H tests.

Main Results:

• Veterinary professionals valued "openness" more than clients, but "emotional stability" less.
• Young adults (18-24) preferred "extraversion" most and "agreeableness" least.
• Older adults (55+) valued "agreeableness" and "emotional stability" more than younger age groups (18-44).

Conclusions:

• Personality trait expectations for veterinarians vary significantly between clients and professionals, as well as across different age demographics.
• Clients prioritize emotional stability, while older adults seek agreeable and creative veterinarians.
• Veterinary education should emphasize developing skills aligned with these desired traits to foster stronger professional relationships.