The Relationship Between Medical Student Neuroticism and Preferred Medical Specialty: Cross-Sectional Study
Choosing a specialty is a key decision for United States (U.S.) medical students, finalized in the fourth year through the National Resident Matching Program. Influencing factors include experience, gender, lifestyle, finances, and personality. Aligning personality with specialty can boost job satisfaction and patient care. With 51% of pre-clerkship students eyeing competitive fields, making early insights valuable. The five-factor model includes extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Neuroticism—linked to anxiety and emotional instability—affects decision-making, but its role in specialty choice is underexplored. Studies show surgeons tend to have low neuroticism, while future obstetricians and psychiatrists show higher levels. This study examines the relationship between neuroticism and specialty choice among medical students at a U.S. allopathic medical school. The goal is to provide insights for personalized medical career counseling and interventions tailored to student needs.
