Big five personality traits and resilience as predictors for self-isolation adherence during COVID-19 pandemic

Kayvan Alimoradi; Reza Ghanei Gheshlagh; Ahmed Najeeb Albatineh; Bahram Nikkhoo; Farideh Nargesi; Khaled Rahmani

doi:10.18502/npt.v11i3.16175

Kayvan Alimoradi Department of Clinical Psychology, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Reza Ghanei Gheshlagh Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Ahmed Najeeb Albatineh Department of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
Bahram Nikkhoo Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Farideh Nargesi Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch, Sanandaj, Iran
Khaled Rahmani Liver and Digestive Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/npt.v11i3.16175

Keywords: COVID-19; big five personality traits; resilience; self-isolation

Abstract

Background & Aim: Results of previous studies on the role of personality traits and resilience in explaining health-oriented behaviors such as social/physical distance and self-isolation were inconsistent. The present study was conducted to determine the role of the five big personality traits and resilience in adherence to self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods & Materials: A prospective longitudinal cohort study tracked 112 healthcare providers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Using GPS data from their cell phones, researchers assessed self-isolation adherence over 14 days. Participants completed NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) questionnaires.

Results: Sixty-one (58.7%) of the subjects violated their self-isolation, and 43 (41.3%) did not violate it during the 14 days after PCR positivity for COVID-19. After adjustment for potential confounders, results showed that only two of the five big personality traits included, conscientiousness (AOR=1.37; 95%CI: 1.15–1.63) and neuroticism (AOR=0.85; 95%CI: 0.74–0.98), were significantly related to the self-isolation adherence. This means a one-unit increase in conscientiousness is associated with 37% higher odds of self-isolation adherence, while a one-unit increase in neuroticism reduces self-isolation adherence by 15%. Resilience was the main predictor for self-isolation adherence in which a one-unit increase in resilience score, the odds of adherence to self-isolation significantly increased by 18% (AOR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.07–1.30) (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The study suggests that fostering conscientiousness and resilience among individuals may enhance self-isolation commitment during pandemics. Further research is needed to explore the influence of agreeableness, extraversion, and openness to experience on self-isolation adherence.