Sasang Personality Questionnaire Research Articles

Analyses of Physical and Psychological Characteristics of "Squid Game" Characters Using East Asian Biopsychosocial Personality Theories and Body Mass Index.

Media characters' physical and psychological traits are crucial for character development and audience engagement. This study examines East Asian perspectives on the audience's perceptions of the physical appearance and personality, using Eum-Yang biopsychological Sasang theory, of five characters from the Netflix series "Squid Game". A total of 221 university students assessed the traits of five "Squid Game" characters using the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and a visual Body Mass Index (BMI). ANOVA and Profile Analysis revealed significant and comprehensive differences in the SPQ and its subscales (behavior, SPQ-B; cognition, SPQ-C; and emotion, SPQ-E) as well as BMI among the five drama characters. More specifically, Seong Gi-hun (SGH) and Han Mi-nyeo (HMN) were So-Yang types (high SPQ, moderate BMI), Cho Sang-woo (CSW) and Kang Sae-byeok (KSB) were So-Eum types (low SPQ, low BMI), and Jang Deok-su (JDS) was Tae-Eum type (moderate SPQ, high BMI). Psychological profiling showed two patterns: V-shaped (high SPQ-B, low SPQ-C, high SPQ-E) for SGH, HMN, and JDS, and A-shaped (low SPQ-B, high SPQ-C, low SPQ-E) for CSW and KSB. These results contribute to media psychology by highlighting the relevance of Eum-Yang and Sasang typology for creating and analyzing complex characters, thereby enhancing global understanding for East Asian biopsychosocial theories.

The Yin-Yang personality from biopsychological perspective using revised Sasang Personality Questionnaire

BackgroundThe biopsychological, pathological and physical characteristics of Yin-Yang (Eum-Yang in Korean) have been suggested using Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), however, the revision of SPQ is required for escalating its clinical use and multidimensional study on Yin-Yang. Methods274 university students were recruited to complete the SPQ, candidate items of revised SPQ (rSPQ) along with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). After selecting rSPQ items using Item Analysis and Explorative Factor Analysis, its psychometric property was examined using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Pearson’s correlation and t-test. The biopsychological features of Yin and Yang personality groups based on rSPQ total score were illustrated with the TCI using ANOVA and Profile Analysis. ResultsThe behavior, cognition and emotion subscales of 15-item rSPQ had robust psychometric construct and showed distinctive psychological characteristics of Yin-Yang. The rSPQ-total score was correlated positively with SPQ-total (r = 0.644, p < 0.01) and TCI Novelty-Seeking (r = 0.398, p < 0.01), and negatively with TCI Harm-Avoidance (r = −0.364, p < 0.01). And, the Yin personality group (34.45 ± 10.36 and 46.82 ± 12.27) has significantly different scores in Novelty-Seeking and Harm-Avoidance compared to Yang personality group (43.2 ± 9.1 and 36.53 ± 10.78). Yin and Yang personality groups showed distinctive TCI subscale profiles as shown in previous studies. ConclusionThe current study showed the organized subscale structure and clinical validity of rSPQ for Yin-Yang personality, and it would provide foundation for East-West cross-cultural psychology and integrative medicine.

Yin-Yang personality of pediatric outpatients in Korea

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.

Is the cognitive emotion regulation strategy related to Yin-Yang personality traits?

IntroductionYin-Yang is a principal theory in East-Asian medicine for scrutinizing biopsychological predisposition and pathological susceptibility. The cognitive emotion regulation strategy governs immediate response to stressful events, and mediates the effects of personality on biopsychological health and well-being; however, its relation to Yin-Yang personality has yet to be examined. Methods247 Korean university students completed the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) for Yin-Yang personality and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Stepwise regression analysis was employed to examine the effects of SPQ subscales on adaptive (aCERQ) and maladaptive CERQ (mCERQ) total score. Latent Profile Analysis was applied to extract hidden groups in aCERQ and mCERQ subscales, while Profile Analysis and the F-test examined differences in SPQ and CERQ subscale profiles and scores between extracted latent groups. ResultsThree SPQ subscales explained 13% and 8% of the total variance of the aCERQ and mCERQ total scores, respectively. High SPQ-Behavior and gender explained the aCERQ total score, while low SPQ-Behavior and high SPQ-Emotionality explained the mCERQ total score. There were significant differences in SPQ-Behavior and SPQ-Cognition between more and less adaptive groups, and in SPQ-Behavior and SPQ-Emotionality between less and more maladaptive groups. ConclusionsThe subscales of Yin-Yang personality was shown to explain the use of cognitive emotion regulation as individual trait and complex profile. The usefulness of Yin-Yang for improving mental health in college education were discussed.

Body Composition, Anthropometric Measurements, and Physical Fitness Vary with Yin-Yang Temperament in Female University Students

Background: No studies have objectively assessed the relationship between body characteristics and Yin-Yang temperament in East-Asian traditional medicine. Here, we determined body composition, anthropometric measurements and physical fitness in individuals with different Yin-Yang temperament, using the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Methods: This study included 772 female university students. Those scoring in the lower 30% of SPQ scores were placed in the Yin group (226 subjects) and those scoring in the upper 30% in the Yang group (226 subjects). Bioimpedance analysis was used to determine total body water, protein mass, minerals, muscle mass, lean body mass, soft lean mass, body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio, body mass index (BMI), obesity, and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Anthropometric variables were height, weight, and BMI. Physical fitness variables were muscular strength (grip, back strength), agility (tapping), muscular endurance (sit-ups), power (standing long jump), flexibility (trunk flexion), and cardiovascular endurance (Harvard step). Differences between groups were analyzed using a t-test. Results: Total body water, protein mass, minerals, soft lean mass, lean body mass, and BMR were significantly higher in the Yang group than in the Yin group (p < 0.05). Weight, height, BMI, back strength, muscular endurance, and power were also significantly higher in the Yang group than in the Yin group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study is the first to show that physical traits vary according to Yin-Yang temperament. These data serve as a basis for systematic health management, physical fitness management, and exercise prescription according to Yin-Yang temperament.

Differences in Physical Fitness and Eating Attitude among Female University Students according to the Sasang Personality Questionnaire

Differences in Physical Fitness and Eating Attitude among Female University Students according to the Sasang Personality Questionnaire

Validity of Yin-Yang temperament in Sasang Personality Questionnaire

BackgroundThe Yin-Yang is a pivotal concept of traditional East-Asian medicine, however the stability of Yin-Yang temperament in Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) over time has not been extensively studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest validity of SPQ with a large number of participants. MethodsSPQ test was conducted two times with three months interval in 247 Korean university students. The structural validity of first SPQ data was examined with Factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha, and the correlation between first and second measure of SPQ was attested with Pearson's correlation. Yang, Uncertain and Yin temperament groups were determined with SPQ total scores, and agreement of temperament group clustering between first and second measures were analyzed with Cohen's Kappa. ResultsThree subscales of SPQ explained 55.25% of total variances, and internal consistency of SPQ total score was 0.772. The correlation coefficient between first and second measures of SPQ were 0.851 and 0.888 in male and female, respectively, and the agreement of first and second Yin-Yang temperament group clustering as Cohen's Kappa was 0.536 for male and 0.637 for female. ConclusionThe repeatability of SPQ measuring Yin-Yang temperament at three months of interval was found to be satisfactory. The SPQ would be a reliable clinical measure for the biopsychological studies of traditional East-Asian medicine.

Manifestations of Sasang Typology according to Common Chronic Diseases in Koreans

Sasang typology is a traditional Korean medical classification scheme that combines medical management with general medicine and can be applied to chronic diseases. We aimed to analyze differences in Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Sasang Digestive Function Inventory (SDFI) results in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, functional dyspepsia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and adenomyosis. In this cross‐sectional study, data were collected at a medical college hospital in South Korea. A total of 248 patients were included: 52 with DM, 47 with hypertension, 36 with functional dyspepsia, 26 with MDD, and 87 with adenomyosis. The subjects took both the SPQ and the SDFI. The outcome measures in this study were body mass index (BMI), SPQ score, and SDFI score. The DM and hypertension groups, which were expected to demonstrate many Taeeum‐type traits, exhibited high BMI, high SPQ‐Behavior and SDFI‐Appetite scores, and low SPQ‐Emotionality and SDFI‐Digestion scores. The functional dyspepsia group showed low BMI and high scores for SPQ‐Behavior, SPQ‐Emotionality, SDFI‐Digestion, and SDFI‐Appetite. The MDD group demonstrated high SPQ‐Emotionality and SDFI‐Digestion scores, low BMI, and low SPQ‐Behavior and SDFI‐Appetite scores. The adenomyosis group demonstrated high scores for SPQ‐Behavior, SDFI‐Digestion, and SDFI‐Appetite, low BMI, and low SPQ‐Emotionality scores. Different characteristics distinguishing Sasang traits according to chronic diseases were ascertained, especially for Taeeum and Soeum types.

Biopsychological and pathophysiological features of Cold-Heat subgroup of Sasang typology with Sasang Digestive Function Inventory, Sasang Personality Questionnaire and Body Mass Index

BackgroundThe Sasang typology is a traditional Korean personalized medicine and its Cold-Heat subgroup identification is essential for effective use of medical herbs and acupuncture. The purpose of this study was to discover differences between Cold-Heat subgroups with objective clinical measures and to examine its clinical usefulness. MethodsThe pathophysiological symptoms of the digestive system, temperament and body shape of 241 patients were measured using the Sasang Digestive Function Inventory (SDFI), Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Body Mass Index (BMI). The differences between Cold and Heat subgroups of each Sasang types were tested by Analysis of Covariance considering age and sex, while the associations of SDFI, SPQ and BMI with Cold-Heat subgroup were examined by logistic regression analysis. ResultsThere were significant differences between Cold and Heat subgroups in SDFI, SPQ and BMI for the So-Yang, SDFI and BMI for the Tae-Eum type and SDFI-Digestion subscale for the So-Eum type. Moreover, the SDFI-Digestion was a substantial predictor for Cold-Heat subgroup identification in three Sasang types. The logistic regression model with SDFI, SPQ and BMI correctly predicted 81.9%, 77% and 75.5% of the Cold-Heat subgroups in So-Yang, Tae-Eum and So-Eum types, respectively. ConclusionThe results of the present study showed that the objective and validated clinical measures of SDFI, SPQ and BMI would be useful for differentiating Cold-Heat subgroups of Sasang typology. Further clinical studies on pathophysiological mechanisms in Cold-Heat subgroup are required to generalize these results.

Body composition and personality traits in so-Yang type males

BackgroundThe purpose of the present study was to examine the body composition of So-Yang type males according to Sasang constitutional medicine, which is popular in Korea. Different Sasang constitutional types are associated with different muscle distributions, body shapes, and disease susceptibilities. We used the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) as a measure of the temperament of each Sasang type.MethodsIn total, 953 subjects aged over 20 years were recruited in Korea. We collected anthropometric parameters and bioimpedence information from the subjects and administered the SPQ. A logistic regression was conducted to calculate propensity scores.ResultsThe percentage of skeletal muscle mass in So-Yang (SY) and non-So-Yang (non-SY) males was 45.8 ± 2.7 and 44.2 ± 3.3, respectively, before matching and 45.8 ± 2.6 and 44.9 ± 3.0, respectively, after propensity score matching. The extracellular water (ECW)/intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW)/total body water (TBW) ratios and SPQ scores were significantly different between the SY and non-SY types.ConclusionsThis study suggested that the SY type may be significantly and independently associated with body composition and could be associated with personality.

The association between problem behaviors and Yin-Yang temperament in Korean middle school students

ObjectivesThe Yin-Yang represents two opposing and complementary traits of nature such as introvert-extrovert and passive-active, and has been primary framework of medicine for thousands of years in the East. The purpose of this study was to examine the problem behaviors of the middle school students, which is a major social and psychopathological issue in Korea, from the Yin-Yang temperaments.MethodsSubjects of 670 middle school students (365 boys and 305 girls) finished Korean version of youth self-report (YSR) for describing the problem behaviors and Sasang personality questionnaire (SPQ) for measuring Yin-Yang temperament. The high (30%) and low (30%) SPQ score groups were shown to represent Yin and Yang temperament groups with acceptable reliability and validity. We examined the correlation between YSR and SPQ, and YSR subscale differences between high and low SPQ score groups.ResultsThe SPQ significantly (P &lt; 0.01) correlated positively with YSR externalizing problem (r = 0.148, r = 0.182) and negatively with YSR Internalizing Problem (r = −0.212, r = −0.177) in boys and girls, respectively. The Yang temperament group (8.42 ± 6.24, 8.36 ± 6.59) is significantly (P &lt; 0.01) higher than Yin group (6.17 ± 4.82, 5.83 ± 5.32) in Externalizing Problem, and the Yin temperament group (9.55 ± 7.72, 11.38 ± 8.18) is significantly (P &lt; 0.01) higher than Yang group (6.01 ± 5.95, 8.28 ± 7.49) in Internalizing Problem with boys and girls, respectively.ConclusionThese results showed that the Yin-Yang temperament of traditional eastern medicine might be clinically useful for screening psychopathological problems in adolescents. Implications and suggestions for cross-cultural psychological study of the East and West are also suggested.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

초등학생에 있어서의 사상성격검사 타당화 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study was to validate the biopsychological structure of Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) measuring Yin-Yang temperament with Junior version of Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI) for temperament and Body Mass Index (BMI) and Pondera Index (PI) for physical constitution in elementary school students. Methods 903 Korean elementary school students (430 boys and 473 girls) completed SPQ, JTCI, and height and weight measures. Then they were analyzed by their genders and age groups. The correlation between SPQ and JTCI subscales were examined. The differences found in the SPQ and JTCI subscales, BMI and PI among high (30%), middle (40%), and low (30%) SPQ groups were investigated by analysis of variance. The profile analysis was also performed to compare JTCI subscale profiles of three SPQ total score groups. Results The SPQ score was significantly (p<0.001), and positively correlated with the JTCI Novelty-Seeking and negatively with the JTCI Harm-Avoidance. The JTCI Novelty-Seeking score of high SPQ group was significantly (p<0.001) higher than that of low SPQ group, and the JTCI Harm-Avoidance score of low SPQ group was significantly higher than that of high SPQ group. The JTCI subscale profiles for three SPQ groups were significantly (p<0.001) different for boys and girls. Significant correlations between BMI and SPQ were not found. PI and BMI of high and low SPQ groups were not significantly different. Conclusions The SPQ was shown to have robust biopsychological structure in elementary school students. It would be useful clinical measures for Sasang typology in pediatric patients.

Analysis of seven animation characters in Pororo the Little Penguin with Sasang typology

BackgroundAnimation characters are created to embody distinctive personalities and body images; however, these features have not been analyzed with objective measures based on East Asian theory. The purpose of this study was to analyze the biopsychological features of seven animation characters in Pororo the Little Penguin, which scored unprecedented success in Korea, with clinically validated and standardized measures of Sasang typology. MethodsForty-one graduate students completed a survey examining body mass index (BMI) and Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) of seven characters in Pororo the Little Penguin after watching three selected episodes. The differences in physical appearance and psychological traits among animation characters were analyzed with analysis of variance. ResultsSPQ and BMI showed distinctive biopsychological features of seven animation characters. Pororo (28.29±6.38 and 36.61±3.09) was a typical So-Yang type boy, Petty (20.98±4.07 and 31.66±4.59) was a typical So-Yang type girl, and Loopy (28.05±6.60 and 22.78±4.78) was a typical So-Eum type girl in terms of BMI and SPQ, respectively. The BMI and SPQ of Poby (41.10±4.26 and 22.32±3.48) and Harry (19.63±5.17 and 37.61±2.40) showed the most obvious contrast. ConclusionThis study showed that SPQ and BMI are useful objective measures for analyzing the biopsychosocial features of animation characters as well as patients. The interdisciplinary research methodology of Sasang typology suggested here would provide useful tools for educating healthcare professionals and the general public about Korean medicine, and also contribute to the development of animation characters.

Study on Sasang Constitutional Characteristics using Sasang Personality Questionnaire and Sasang Digestive Function Inventory in Clinical Level

Sasang Digestive Function Inventory (SDFI) and Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) were developed on the basis of clinical experiences of Korean medicine hospital and previous studies have used these for analyzing Sasang constitutional characteristics mainly in hospital level. The purpose of this study is to analyze Sasang constitutional characteristics using SDFI and SPQ in clinical level. The SPQ, SDFI, height and weight were measured with 79 patients over 18-years-old from Jan. 2015 to Apr. 2016 in the clinic, Daegu, Korea that specializes in tinnitus and performs Sasang constitution diagnosis. We used ANOVA in analyzing the differences of the scores of SPQ, SDFI, BMI and PI in each Sasang types (Tae-Yang, So-Yang, Tae-Eum), and Bonferroni test or Dunnett’s T3 for post verification. The SDFI-T(F=3.215) and SDFI-D(F=4.347) scores were significantly different(p0.05) and SPQ score was not different in each Sasang types(p0.05). And Weight(F=4.294), BMI(F=12.386) and PI(F=14.490) were significantly different in each Sasang types(p0.001). We found that SDFI(SDFI-D) and BMI·PI can explain the Sasang constitutional characteristics, that is equivalent to previous studies and might be used for clinical index in making objective questionnaire for Sasnag constitutional diagnosis in clinical level.

중학생에서 사상성격검사(SPQ)의 생리심리적 타당화 연구

중학생에서 사상성격검사(SPQ)의 생리심리적 타당화 연구

Validation of the Sasang Personality Questionnaire in high school students

BackgroundThe Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) is an objective measure of Yin–Yang temperament of Sasang typology with proven clinical and structural validity; however, it has not been validated in people younger than 20 years. The purpose of this study was to examine the biopsychological structure of the SPQ in high school students. MethodsA total of 670 Korean high school students (365 boys and 305 girls) completed the SPQ, Junior version of Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), and weight and height measures. The correlation between the SPQ and JTCI subscales was investigated, and the differences of these subscales, body mass index, and Pondera Index between the high (30%), middle (40%), and low (30%) SPQ total score groups were examined with analysis of variance. The profile analysis was also performed to compare JTCI subscale profiles of the three SPQ total score groups. ResultsThe SPQ total score significantly correlated positively with JTCI novelty seeking (r=0.548 and r=0.540) and negatively with JTCI harm avoidance (r=–0.393 and r=–0.395) in boys and girls, respectively. The JTCI novelty-seeking score is significantly higher in the high SPQ total score group (24.12±5.27 and 24.15±5.17 for boys and girls, respectively) than in the low SPQ total score group (16.49±5.08 and 17.24±4.83, respectively), and the JTCI harm-avoidance score is significantly higher in the low SPQ total score group (25.34±6.08 and 26.64±5.77 for boys and girls, respectively) than in the high SPQ total score group (19.27±6.62 and 19.23±6.00, respectively). The JTCI subscale profiles for the three SPQ total score groups were significantly different for boys (degrees of freedom=3.416, F=292.16, p<0.001) and girls (degrees of freedom=3.4, F=230.51, p<0.001). There were no significant correlations or differences in body mass index and Pondera Index among the SPQ total score groups. ConclusionThe results showed that the biopsychological structure of the SPQ in adolescents is robust, similar to that in the adult population. The SPQ might be useful for the application of Sasang typology in pediatrics.

Biopsychological structure of Yin-Yang using Cloninger's Temperament model and Carver and White's BIS/BAS scale.

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological structure of Yin-Yang based on the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) in relation to Carver and White’s Behavior Inhibition/Behavior Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scale and Cloninger’s temperament model of the West.Methods. A total of 188 university students were classified as high (30%), middle (40%), and low (30%) groups based on their SPQ score and their differences in Cloninger’s temperaments and BIS/BAS subscales were analyzed using analysis of covariance after controlling the sex. Correlation among SPQ, Cloninger’s four temperaments and BIS/BAS subscales was also examined.Results. Significant differences in BAS (F = 11.703, p < .001), Novelty-Seeking (F = 4.945, p < .01), and Harm-Avoidance (F = 10.912, p < .001) were observed between high and low SPQ score groups after controlling for sex. The SPQ showed significant correlation with BAS (r = 0.303), Novelty-Seeking (r = 0.225), and Harm-Avoidance (r = − 0.273). However, BIS showed no significant differences between SPQ groups, and did not show correlation with the SPQ.Discussion. The current study demonstrated that Yin-Yang has similarities with and disparities from the Western tradition and may be examined with objective instruments. We showed that the emotionality of the East which is defined as mobility of emotion, not emotional instability as traditionally defined in Western theories, is pivotal for understanding the nature of emotion in the East. Suggestions are made for cross-cultural psychobiological study of the East and West.

Analysis of the association between problem behaviors and Sasang typology in high school students

BackgroundSome studies have shown that Sasang typology is related to specific problem behaviors, but research on the associations between Sasang types and problem behaviors in children is scarce. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between Sasang types and problem behaviors in Korean high school students. MethodsA total of 686 Korean high school students (371 boys and 315 girls) completed the Korean version of Youth Self-Report (YSR) for describing the problem behaviors in adolescents and the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) for measuring the temperament characteristics of Sasang typology. The correlation between YSR and SPQ subscales was investigated, and the differences of YSR among the high (30%), middle (40%), and low (30%) SPQ total score groups were examined with Analysis of variance. The profile analysis was also performed to compare YSR subscale profiles of three SPQ total score groups. ResultsThe SPQ total score significantly (p<0.001) correlated positively with YSR externalizing problems (r=0.293 and r=0.248) and negatively with YSR internalizing problems (r=–0.211 and r=–0.150) in males and females, respectively. The YSR externalizing problem score is significantly higher in the high SPQ total score group (13.14±9.33 and 10.03±5.34 for males and females, respectively) than in the low SPQ total score group (8.18±5.53 and 8.58±5.73, respectively), and the YSR internalizing problem score is significantly higher in the low SPQ total score group (11.28±8.92 and 12.97±8.69 for males and females, respectively) than in the high SPQ total score group (9.35±9.00 and 11.28±7.58, respectively). The YSR profiles for three SPQ total score groups were significantly different for males (profile analysis, df=12.324, F=18.164, p<0.001) and females (df=12.677, F=11.601, p<0.001). ConclusionThese results could be recognized as the SPQ, and Sasang typology would be useful for predicting the pathological patterns even of psychological problems in high school students. This study would be useful for the screening of psychopathological problems and character development in adolescents.

Difference in Personality Construct Between the West and East

Objectives There have been lots of psychological studies on the difference between the West and East; however, it was mainly focused on the cultural and social outlook rather than the personality perspective of the individuals. The difference in personality construct between the West and East needs to be examined with objective and validated instruments. Methods We used Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) along with Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). SPQ measures the psychological traits with three subscales of behavior (SPQ-B), cognition (SPQ-C) and emotionality (SPQ-E) based on the Yin-Yang and traditional Korean medicine. We analyzed the correlation between TCI, NEO-PI and SPQ with 104 college students in Korea (age, 28.8±4.8; male/female, 52/52). Results The personality structure of SPQ showed distinctive features with emotionality (SPQ-E) which generally perceived as concurrent with behavior and cognition. SPQ-B/SPQ-C were correlated negatively with TCI Harm-Avoidance (r=-0.542 and -0.387) and NEO-PI Neuroticism (r=-0.285 and -0.340), however SPQ-E positively with Harm-Avoidance (r=0.283) and NEO-PI Neuroticism (r=0.398). In addition, SPQ-B/SPQ-C were correlated positively with TCI Novelty-Seeking (r=0.355 and 0.369) and NEO-PI Extraversion (r=0.67, 0.283), but SPQ-E not significant with them. Conclusion The disparities in personality construct might be originated from difference in the definition of emotionality; the West accentuates the emotional stability, however the East emphasizes the level of emotional activity. We discussed the implication of these from the cross-cultural personality studies.

Personality construct of Sasang Personality Questionnaire in an adolescent sample

BackgroundSasang typology is a widely used personalized traditional medicine in clinical diagnosis and treatment in Korea. The aim of this study was to examine the personality construct of the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) to replicate the previous findings in the adolescent sample. MethodsA total of 543 high school students completed the SPQ and the Korean version of the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI). The relationships between the subscales of JTCI and SPQ were examined using Pearson's correlation. The profile analysis and analysis of variance were used to investigate the difference among high, middle, and low SPQ total score groups. ResultsThe SPQ and its subscales were significantly correlated with the JTCI subscales. SPQ total score was positively correlated with Novelty Seeking (r=0.424) and negatively correlated with Harm Avoidance (r=–0.291). The high, middle, and low SPQ total score groups showed significantly different JTCI profile (flatness with Greenhouse–Geisser correction, df=3.424, F=443.812, p<0.001; parallelism with Greenhouse–Geisser correction, df=6.848, F=18.610, p<0.001). ConclusionThe validity of the SPQ construct was confirmed with adolescents. Further investigation on its personality construct would extend the clinical application of SPQ to young age groups including children.