Secular trends for dark traits, affective empathy, and adverse experiences in medical students

Good Day

You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Joshua Davimes (Principal Investigator) and co-investigators: Ms. Vanessa Visser, Dr. Victoria Williams, and Prof. Mitchell A. Cox from Wits University. The study has been reviewed and approved by the Wits Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical- Certificate No. M250731).

Study aim

The aim of this study is to explore personality traits in medical students, with a focus on the Dark Factor of Personality (D), empathy levels, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), to better understand how these variables may present in medical students in an academic research context. There are no direct benefits to participants; however, the findings may contribute to improved understanding of wellbeing and professional development in medical training.

What will participation involve?

You are invited to complete an anonymous online questionnaire that will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete. The questionnaire includes:

• Demographic questions (e.g., age, year of study, gender, background)
• 70-item D-Score questionnaire, which measures ten socially aversive personality traits
• Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (16 items, optional)
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire (10 items, optional)

Your responses will be saved anonymously and used solely for academic research. You may opt to complete only the required sections (1 and 2), or you may choose to continue with the optional sections (3 and 4). Upon completion of the survey, you will be shown a summary of your D-score (for your personal interest only). You are under no obligation to save or share this score.

Who can take part?

All registered first-year to sixth-year MBBCh students at Wits University who are 18 years or older are eligible to participate (Please note that this is not a psychological diagnosis and should not be considered a formal assessment).

Voluntary participation and withdrawal

Your participation is entirely voluntary. You may exit the survey at any time by closing your browser window or simply leaving the page. Once submitted, your survey responses cannot be withdrawn, as they contain no identifying information.

Risks and support

Sensitive questions will include statements relating to the ten “dark” personality traits: egoism, Machiavellianism, moral disengagement, narcissism, greed, psychological entitlement, psychopathy, sadism, self-centeredness, and spitefulness.

The D70 “dark traits score” is not a diagnosis, and its significance is not yet clear from prior research. It is used in this study as an exploratory research measure of behavioural tendencies, not as a formal psychological or psychiatric assessment. The optional section on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) will include explicit and potentially distressing questions on childhood trauma, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, household substance abuse, household mental illness, and domestic violence. These questions are intrusive and sensitive. They are described here in detail to ensure true informed consent, so that participants are fully aware of the sensitive content before completing the survey.

Please note that no treatment or therapy will be provided as part of this study.

For the full study information sheet, Wits HREC contact details and Counselling support contact details - please click here

Contact details

If you have questions about this study, please contact:
Dr. Joshua Davimes (Principal Investigator): joshua.davimes@wits.ac.za

On behalf of the research team, thank you for your time and consideration. Your participation is greatly appreciated.