Associations between professional values and self-actualization among South Korean and Chinese medical students.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare professional values endorsed at one South Korean and one Chinese medical school, examine which values were associated with endorsement of self-actualization, and identify latent value classes.

Methods: Cross-sectional convenience survey of 321 medical students: 211 second- and third-year students at a Korean national university, 110 at a Chinese medical college. Twelve items (11 values, self-actualization) were scored as endorsed or not, with unlimited selections; the Chinese version was back-translated. Analyses were t-tests, phi coefficients, logistic regression, and latent class analysis with Benjamini-Hochberg correction.

Results: Competence was endorsed most frequently in both samples. Korean students endorsed competence, t₍₃₁₉₎ = 3.27, p = .001, and collaboration, t₍₃₁₉₎ = 4.05, p < .001, more often, Chinese students endorsed social recognition, t₍₃₁₉₎ = -3.01, p = .003; all survived correction, with small effects (d = 0.38, 0.48, -0.35). Satisfaction with the major was higher in the Korean sample, t₍₃₁₈₎ = 27.66, p < .001, d = 3.26, reported descriptively only. Social contribution was associated with self-actualization in both samples (r = .25 Korean, .44 Chinese) and was the only logistic coefficient to remain significant after adjustment (OR = 5.42, p = .001, Chinese sample); Korean associations attenuated after adjusting for the number of values endorsed. Latent classes (two Korean, three Chinese) differed mainly in endorsement breadth.

Conclusions: Social contribution was the most consistent correlate of endorsement of self-actualization. Because each country was represented by one institution, differences cannot be attributed to culture. Career guidance may address value heterogeneity within cohorts; multi-institutional longitudinal research is needed.