1. Objectives
The purpose of this study was to analyze the physical and psychological characteristics of each Sasang type groups which were classified by Sasang medicine specialist.
2. Methods
The subjects were 115 (85.2% of male) university students with 26.8±5.4 yrs. of age and 12.9±1.7 yrs. of education. We can get 30 of Soyang type, 39 of Taeeum type, 46 of Soeum type after the Sasang type classification. Their physical characteristics were measured with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (Inbody 720, Biospace, Seoul), and psychological characteristics with Temperament and Character Inventory (Maumsarang, Seoul). The general linear model (SPSS 12.0, SPSS Inc, Chicago) were used for the analysis with gender and age as covariance.
3. Results and Conclusions
Taeeum type group (75.64±13.01, 26.12±4.16, 15.74±2.42, 11.30±1.80, 3.93±0.62, 18.43±7.70) showed significantly bigger weight, intra-cellular water, extra-cellular water, protein, mineral, body fat mass than Soeum type group (61.32±8.56, 22.54±3.87, 13.70±2.15, 9.74±1.68, 3.35±0.51, 10.79±3.97). In obesity degree such as Body Mass Index and Waist-hip ratio, and circumference measures in chest, waist and hip, we found significant differences in the order of Taeeum>Soyang>Soeum.
As a psychological perspectives Soyang type group (41.90±13.32) has higher NS (Novelty-Seeking) score than Soeum type group (35.22±11.22) with marginal significance (p=0.052). In sub-scale measurements Soeum type group (10.61±3.69) has significantly lower value than other two groups in P3 (Ambition).
The results of present study showed that Taeeum type by specialist has same physical characteristics as previously reported QSCCⅡ based studies. Temperament profile of each Sasang type group will serve as an important evidence for further study showing that the Sasang typology has biological basis.