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

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.

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.

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.

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.