Comparative study of affective temperaments between medical students and humanities students(evaluation by validated temps-a). (13th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jomli, R.; Ouertani, J.; Jemli, H.; Ouali, U.; Zgueb, Y.; Nacef, F.
• Is Part Of: European psychiatry. Volume 64:Supplement 1(2021)
• Page Start: S199
• Page End: S199
• Publication Date: 2021-04-13
• Subjects: student -- medicine -- TEMPS-A -- humanities; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.529
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0924-9338

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: While the links between cyclothymia and creativity are well documented, the experts have tried to determine whether temperament would influence the major choices of life such as career. Objectives: The study aims mainly to evaluate the temperaments of a sample of Tunisian students, and to look for the possible correlations between the temperament and the choice of studies. Methods: The Tunisian version of the TEMPS-A which is a self-evaluation measure to assess affective temperaments was administered to 100 medical students and 100 humanities students. Results: Student populations differed in their socio-demographic and scholar variables such as age, sex ratio or socio-economic level, choice of studies and their religiosity. The temperamental prevalences were close between our two populations by considering the threshold score Mean +1standard deviation; they ranged between 13 and 18%. Hyperthymic and cyclothymic scores were significantly higher among humanities students (11.38 ± 4.385 versus 9.00 ± 4.192 and 11.96 ± 4.497 versus 9.63 ± 4.499 respectively) and irritable scores were higher in the latter, though not significant (6.45 ± 3.823 versus 5.39 ± 2.998). Depressive and anxious temperament scores were close in both groups. The study showed significant temperament differences within gender, socioeconomic status, high school marks, religiosity and political affiliation. Conclusions: It is relevant and even necessary to include such studies in the selection of candidates who could adapt to a specific professional field on the basis of objective criteria such as conscientiousness, and privileging profile diversity.