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Abstract  Explored are the relationships among personality and emotional reactions, work‐related strain, and experiences of burnout among staff exposed vs. not exposed to violence when caring for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Questionnaires measuring personality, emotional reactions, strain and burnout, and exposure to violence were distributed to staff (n = 112) working in 22 group homes for people with ID aged 18 years and older in a community in northern Sweden. The results did not show evidence of a direct influence of personality variables on exposure to violence when working with people with ID and no direct relationships were found between exposure to violence and the staff members' personality traits as measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory and Rosenberg's Self‐Esteem Scale. Although the influence of personality traits on how the staff members experienced violence could not be clearly determined, the authors found an association between personality and strain and the risk of burnout in that certain staff exposed to violence felt more emotionally exhausted than did staff who were not exposed. The knowledge of the relationships among violence, personality, and risk of burnout may be important for the understanding which staff need special supports when working with people with ID.