Personality and Social Support as Predictors of Unethical Behavior Among Healthcare Professionals in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex Ile Ife Osun State

AbstractUnethical behaviour among healthcare professionals is a critical issue that undermines patient safety and public trust in medical institutions. Despite strict ethical guidelines, instances of misconduct persist, highlighting the need to understand contributing factors. This study investigates the roles of personality traits and social support in influencing unethical behavior among healthcare professionals at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC). A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 300 healthcare professionals at OAUTHC. The questionnaire measured demographic information, personality traits using the Big Five Inventory, social support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and unethical behavior through self-reported frequencies. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression techniques to determine relationships and predictive power of the variables.The results show that 16% of healthcare professionals exhibited unethical behavior, while 84% displayed ethical behavior. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between personality traits and unethical behavior (r = .455, p < .05). Additionally, a strong positive correlation existed between social support and unethical behavior (r = .655, p < .05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that personality traits (? = 5.37, T = 1.94, p < .05) and social support (? = 8.54, T = 2.13, p < .05) significantly predicted unethical behavior, jointly explaining 11% of the variance (R2 = .11, F(5, 295) = 10.40, p < .05).The study concludes that personality traits and social support significantly influence unethical behavior among healthcare professionals. While personality traits such as lower conscientiousness and higher neuroticism are associated with increased unethical behavior, the context and nature of social support play a complex role, sometimes exacerbating unethical practices. Healthcare administrators should integrate personality assessments into the hiring process and develop training programs to enhance positive traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness. Social support systems should be regularly evaluated to ensure they promote ethical behavior aligned with organizational values. Creating a culture of transparency and accountability, offering continuous ethics education, and establishing clear reporting mechanisms for unethical behavior are essential steps to foster an ethical work environment.Keywords: Unethical behaviour, personality traits, social support, healthcare professionals, ethical behaviour.