Pathological Personality Traits in Healthcare Staff: A Comparative Research

Background: Recognizing various psychological aspects of healthcare employees and fulfilling their needs can significantly increase their efficiency and productivity. Addressing the dark aspects of personality in healthcare professionals is essential, as it helps reduce potential risks to the healthcare system and enhances patient well-being. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate pathological personality traits in healthcare system employees in Hamadan, Iran, in 2022 compared to the general population. Methods: In 2022, a causal-comparative study at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, a single city in Iran, evaluated dark personality traits in healthcare employees compared with the general population. A total of 130 physicians and nurses were randomly selected along with 130 individuals from urban areas. The control group was relatively matched with the main group in terms of age and gender to minimize confounding variables. Despite these efforts, other unmeasured factors, such as socio-economic status and work-related stress, may have influenced the results. The participants completed the Dark Triad Questionnaire (2002) under controlled conditions. SPSS20 software was used for data analysis, employing descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean scores of narcissism (16.8 ± 3.7 vs. 18.2 ± 4.0), Machiavellianism (51.3 ± 13.0 vs. 55.2 ± 11.1), and psychopathy (47.4 ± 16.7 vs. 52.6 ± 15) were significantly lower in healthcare workers compared to the general population (P < 0.05). The only significant scale among the healthcare employees was narcissism, with surgeons, non-surgeon specialists, general practitioners, and paramedical staff obtaining the highest scores. Conclusions: The findings suggest that healthcare employees exhibit lower dark personality traits than the general population, which may reflect a generally positive disposition. Further research should explore the factors contributing to these positive personality traits among healthcare workers and their impact on patient-care outcomes.