Investigating Burnout and Psychological Well‐Being of Staff Working with People with Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behaviour: The Role of Personality

Background The present research extended previous research by broadening the dimensions of personality traits, and focusing on burnout and psychological well‐being among staff working with people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. Methods This is a cross‐sectional survey in which 103 staff completed questionnaires measuring clients’ challenging behaviour according to staff perception, as well as staff burnout, psychological well‐being and personality traits. Results Regression analyses showed that staff perception of challenging behaviour predicted burnout. Controlling for challenging behaviour, three personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness) predicted burnout and psychological well‐being. Conclusions Personality traits can affect the degree of burnout and poor psychological well‐being that staff may experience. Staff should be informed about the role that their personality traits can play in their well‐being. Training programmes for staff should incorporate the complex relationship between personality traits and well‐being. Further studies should aim at identifying other personality traits that could increase or decrease resilience of staff working in this area.