Key result
Higher overall maladaptive personality trait scores were significantly associated with higher depression scores among medical students (β = 0.61).
Why the study?
The relationship between maladaptive personality traits and depression has been underexplored, particularly among medical students who have a higher prevalence of depression than the general population.
Cross-Sectional (n=2,203)
Yes
Effect estimate: β = 0.61 (95% CI 0.58, 0.64)
p-value: p=<0.001
Maladaptive personality traits are significantly correlated with depression among medical students in Egypt, highlighting the potential need for early mental health screening in this vulnerable group.
Association in medical students warrants screening caution but not causal inference; leaves open prospective validation of personality-depression links.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between maladaptive personality traits and other mental disorders, such as depression, has been underexplored, especially in medical students. Moreover, the prevalence of depression among medical students is greater than that among the general population, increasing their susceptibility to associated psychopathologies. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the relationship between depression and maladaptive personality trait domains on the basis of Criterion B of the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (DSM-5 AMPD) among medical students while also highlighting relevant sociodemographic factors. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2024, with participants surveyed through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included three sections: sociodemographic characteristics, assessment of depression via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and maladaptive personality traits via the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form (PID-5-BF). Statistical analysis was conducted in R via various packages for data cleaning, analysis, and visualization, employing descriptive statistics, regression models, correlation analysis, and reliability tests. RESULTS: A total of 2,203 students participated in this study, with a marginal female dominance of 1,230 (55.8%). The mean (SD) overall maladaptive trait score was 1.11 (0.54), and that for the PHQ-9 was 11.7 (6.0). Statistical analysis revealed that higher depression scores were more strongly associated with females than with males, whereas maladaptive trait scores revealed no significant sex differences. The linear regression model for maladaptive trait domains revealed a significant association between total PHQ-9 scores and overall personality trait scores (B = 0.05 [0.05, 0.06]; β = 0.61 [0.58, 0.64]; p < 0.001). Similarly, another regression model confirmed this association, with overall personality trait scores being statistically significant (B = 7.0 [6.6, 7.3]; β = 0.62 [0.59, 0.65]; p < 0.001)". CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed a significant correlation between maladaptive personality traits and depression in medical students. Moreover, the strong correlation between depression and negative affect suggests that negative affect may be closely linked to depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between maladaptive trait domains and depression and how that relationship affects vulnerable groups such as medical students.
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Elalfy et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Depression and maladaptive personality traits (n=2,203). Maladaptive personality traits vs. Lower maladaptive personality trait scores was evaluated on Association between total PHQ-9 scores and overall personality trait scores (β = 0.61, 95% CI 0.58, 0.64, p=<0.001). Higher overall maladaptive personality trait scores were significantly associated with higher depression scores among medical students (β = 0.61).
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