Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low occupational performance and may occur among health professionals. This study evaluated burnout among nursing students at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. We analyzed associations between burnout and aspects of personality using a questionnaire design. A total of 205 students completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and a questionnaire measure of the Wada’s Big Five personality traits that assessed Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. There was a significant positive correlation between burnout and scores on Neuroticism and significant negative correlations between burnout and scores on Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. There was a greater tendency for burnout in higher-grade students. These results contribute to the identification of personality factors associated with burnout and therefore highlight the need for more detailed investigation of this problem.
