Fatigue: relationships with basic personality and temperament dimensions

This study examined the relationships between the Five-Factor-Model (FFM) personality dimensions (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Openness/Autonomy), the Pavlovian temperament variables (Strength of Excitation, Strength of Inhibition, Mobility), and fatigue. We expected that all these person characteristics would be negatively associated with fatigue. In a survey among persons working at least 20 h a week (N = 765), respondents completed a personality questionnaire (the Five-Factor Personality Inventory), a temperament scale (the Pavlov Temperament Survey), and two fatigue questionnaires (the Checklist Individual Strength-20 and the Emotional Exhaustion scale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory). Results indicated that high scores on Autonomy, and low scores on Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Strength of Excitation were, in various combinations, predictors of higher fatigue scores. Agreeableness, Strength of Inhibition, and Mobility did not play a role in the prediction of any fatigue score. In conclusion, personality and temperament dimensions explained significant proportions of the variance in fatigue. It is stated that there is an urgent need for longitudinal studies in order to examine the predictive value of the personality dimensions over time. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.