A recent article in the Journal of Athletic Training investigated the relationship between personality traits and self-reported burn-out among college trainers.
In short, Jessica Barrett from the University of Connecticut and her co-authors report that personality traits do not predict burnout to a significant extent. They used the Big 5 Personality Inventory to measure personality traits of some 100 college trainers. Only neuroticism shows a weak positive relationship with burnout. Agreeableness and extraversion, two other big traits do not affect self-reported level of burnout, i.e. a mental state that “occurs when work stresses become overwhelming”.
The article is interesting because it demonstrates how the Big 5 concept is used beyond Psychology. In recent posts I try to make a point for Behavioral Public Administration (BPA). Jessica Barrett and her co-authors provide us with an example from which PA researchers could learn from.
And they also provide us with a direct link between Sports Science and Public Administration: Namely they conclude that “organizational-level factors may play a greater role in determining burnout in athletic trainers than individual-level factors such as personality.” So now it is Organizations Science’s turn!
(Pictured above: Indiana Hoosiers Memorial Stadium, Bloomington IN)
Article Citation:
Jessica Barrett, Christianne M. Eason, Rhyan Lazar, and Stephanie M. Mazerolle (2016) Personality Traits and Burnout Among Athletic Trainers Employed in the Collegiate Setting. Journal of Athletic Training: June 2016, Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 454-459.