Influence of Personality Traits on Mental Health, Coping, and Professional Performance in Medical Residents and Physicians: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background: Medical residents and physicians face occupational stressors that increase the risk of mental health disorders and impaired professional functioning, with potential consequences for patient care. Although personality traits have been proposed as key determinants of individual adaptation to these demands, evidence on their relationship to mental health, coping, and performance has remained fragmented. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize associations between personality traits and mental health, coping, and professional performance in medical residents and physicians. Methods: PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to November 15, 2023, with an update in January 2026 (PROSPERO CRD42023483408). Eligible studies were English-language primary research involving medical residents and/or physicians, assessing at least one personality trait (FFM) and a validated measure of mental health (burnout and psychological distress), coping, or performance. Two reviewers independently screened records following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using AXIS/JBI criteria and Cochrane Risk of Bias 2. Pearson r was pooled when 3 or more studies used the same instrument. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 (two-tailed). This review received no external funding. Results: Of 4967 records identified, 34 studies (21,379 participants; 17 countries) were included. Neuroticism was associated with poorer mental health, including higher distress (r = 0.52; 95%CI: 0.18 to 0.87), emotional exhaustion (r = 0.42; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.62), and depersonalization (r = 0.30; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.44), and lower personal accomplishment (r = 0.24; 95%CI: 0.39 to 0.09; all k > or = 3). Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness showed small-to-moderate protective associations with mental health (emotional exhaustion/depersonalization r = 0.18 to 0.36; personal accomplishment r = 0.20 to 0.25; all P < .018). Openness showed weak and inconsistent associations across outcomes. Heterogeneity was substantial (I-square > 75%), and risk of bias was low-to-moderate. Narrative synthesis linked Neuroticism to disengagement-oriented coping and poorer performance, and Conscientiousness and Extraversion to problem-focused coping. Conscientiousness showed the most consistent positive association with performance. Conclusions: Personality traits show modest but meaningful associations with mental health, coping, and professional performance in medical residents and physicians. Neuroticism appears as the main risk factor for poorer mental health, maladaptive coping, and worse professional performance. Conscientiousness, and to a lesser extent, Extraversion and Agreeableness show small protective patterns. These findings support personality traits assessment as a formative resource for tailored support and professional development strategies in medical education and clinical practice.