The relationship between attitudes towards change and five factor personality traits in nurses

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses’ attitudes towards change and their five factor personality traits. Methods: A descriptive and correlational design was applied for the study. Data were collected from 457 nurses working in six different public hospitals, and the Attitudes towards Change Scale and the Five-Factor Personality Traits Scale were used as data collection tools. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha internal consistency analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The participants received the highest mean score on the resistance to change sub-dimension (3.15±0.71) of the Attitudes Towards Change Scale and on the agreeableness sub-dimension (3.97±0.50) of the Five-Factor Personality Traits Scale. This study found significant relationships between the sub-dimensions of the two scales. Conclusion: This study determined that nurses with positive personality traits do not resist change and nurses who were emotionally balanced had positive attitudes towards change. Therefore, personality trait inventories should be used in the selection and appointment of nurses who will work in hospitals experiencing changes.