Personality style, psychological adaptation and expectations of trainee clinical psychologists

Abstract

Abstract The literature suggests that personality affects how individuals experience stress, cope, utilize social support and psychologically adapt. This study examined the personality style, psychological adaptation and expectations of 364 UK trainee clinical psychologists. Personality traits characterizing the sample were: enhancing, modifying, extraversing, outgoing, and agreeing. Mean overall personality adjustment was significantly better than the normal population. The sample scored significantly poorer on self‐esteem, anxiety and depression, but well outside the defined range for poor adaptation. A small percentage (8%, n = 31) had ‘poor’ personality adjustment scores, scored worse on indicators of psychological adaptation and reported greater shortfall of course aspects compared with expectations. However, 41% scored as having a significant problem on one or more of: anxiety, depression, low self‐esteem and work adjustment. About one‐third had a probable substance use problem. In regression analyses, poor personality adjustment, and different areas of expectation‐shortfall, especially impact of training on life variously predicted anxiety, depression, and poor work adjustment. Satisfaction with social support was not predictive of adaptation after personality adjustment was accounted for. Implications for clinical psychology training include the need for enhanced expectation‐management through pre‐course marketing, and better attention to trainees' personal and professional development throughout training. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.