Yin-Yang personality of pediatric outpatients in Korea

Abstract

IntroductionYin-Yang is a major clinical theory of East-Asian traditional medicine for evaluating biopsychological and pathophysiological features. The purpose of current study was to evaluate the Yin-Yang personality of pediatric outpatients using Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) which has been used for both adolescents and adults. MethodsA total of 249 pediatric outpatients completed the SPQ, and respondents were divided into two groups - toddlers and preschoolers (age 1–6, n = 153) and elementary students (age 7–12, n = 96). Gender differences in the SPQ were examined using the Chi-squared test and t-test, and chronological changes of Yin-Yang personality were illustrated with Pearson’s correlation and boxplots. ResultsThe psychometric features of the SPQ in pediatric outpatients were in accordance with those previously reported in community children. The correlation between age and SPQ was not significant (r = 0.049, n.s.) in elementary students, which was consistent with previous studies; however, a significant negative correlation (r=-0.351, p < 0.01) was found in preschoolers. Data showed that the Yang personality is strongest at age one and decreases throughout preschool ages. ConclusionsThe chronological characteristics of Yin-Yang personality of preschoolers with SPQ might be useful for understanding East-Asian traditional pediatric theories from a biopsychological perspective. The clinical implications of the current results in person-centered prevention and health promotion were discussed.