Predictors of Conflict Among Nurses and Their Relationship with Personality Traits

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Background: Conflicts are an inevitable part of interpersonal relationships, and personality traits influence how they are resolved. In the nursing work environment, conflicts often arise from poor communication and stress, negatively impacting nurses’ well-being and quality of care. The “Big Five” personality model highlights how traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability shape conflict approaches. Understanding these traits aids in developing effective conflict management strategies. This study investigates intragroup conflicts among nurses by identifying their types and examining how sociodemographic factors and personality traits predict their occurrence. The aim is to provide insights that support targeted interventions and improve team dynamics in nursing practice. Methods: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis within the University Hospital Centre Osijek from March to August 2024, involving nurses and technicians. Data was collected using structured questionnaires with clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The questionnaire included the Process Conflict Scale, the Big Five Inventory, and a Demographic questionnaire. Appropriate statistical analyses were conducted, including descriptive statistics, normality testing with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, non-parametric Spearman and Point-Biserial correlations, and linear regression to examine predictors of intragroup conflicts. All assumptions for regression were met, with significance set at p < 0.05, and analyses were performed using JASP software version 0.17.2.1. Results: The research reveals significant differences among various types of team conflicts, where personality traits such as neuroticism increase, while conscientiousness decreases conflicts. The professional competence of respondents also positively correlates with logistical conflicts, and personality explains the variance in conflicts among nurses. Conclusions: Intragroup conflicts among nurses, particularly task-related, stem from communication issues and high care standards. Neuroticism negatively affects team dynamics, while conscientiousness can reduce conflicts but may also lead to disagreements if expectations are unmet. Education on conflict management and clearly defined roles can improve teamwork and quality of care.

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