The Use of “the Big Five” in Assessing Levels of Adaptation in Dental Students at Various Stages of Their Education

¹ Stavropol State Medical University, 355010 Stavropol, Russia
² North-Caucasus Federal University 355017 Stavropol, Russia

^* Corresponding author: larisa-litva@yandex.ru

Abstract

Current approaches in psychology look at human adaptation reserves as part of individual character. “the Big Five” evaluates subjects’ actual behaviour and levels of reserves of adaptation on each of the five scales. The results show reliably identifiable changes between the first and third years of study. Students acquire traits associated with introversion and reduce their social contacts (р≤0.01). A reduction to average is also visible in “Attachment – Detachment” (р≤0.05) and “Playfulness – Practicality” (р≤0.01). It can be seen that there is a reduction in the adaptation abilities of dental students between the first and third years in terms of social contact and the application of practical knowledge. Mastering the disciplines under study becomes harder, while the amount of theoretical knowledge and practical ability required increases, necessitating higher levels of concentration. Taking into account the increase in academic workload during this period, some of the above can be put down to stress.