Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2026

Thesis Advisor(s)

Natalie Shook

Honors Major

Nursing

Disciplines

Nursing | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Despite extensive didactic and clinical training, variability in adherence to infection prevention practices in undergraduate nursing students exists. Individual differences, such as personality, may help to explain this inconsistency. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the Big Five personality traits were associated with self-reported pathogen mitigation or avoidance behavior in undergraduate nursing students. An online survey design was used with undergraduate nursing students. Participants were presented with scenarios depicting different pathogen exposures and asked to indicate their likelihood of engaging in pathogen mitigation behaviors. The Big Five personality traits were also assessed, and bivariate correlation analyses were conducted to examine relationships between personality traits and pathogen mitigation behaviors. Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness to Experience were positively associated with pathogen mitigation behaviors, whereas Extraversion and Neuroticism were not significantly associated and therefore not interpreted further. These results indicated that adherence to infection prevention practices may be influenced by individual differences in personality, not just education and training. Incorporating awareness of these differences into nursing education may help strengthen infection control practices and improve patient outcomes. Continued research may support the development of more tailored and effective approaches to training in clinical settings.

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