title: Psychometric comparison of students in medicine and other faculties: social factors and psychologic symptoms.
abstract: Few studies have investigated personality and psychopathological profiles associated to the choice of university education. Our study examined students from four faculties of Turin University, in Turin, Italy (Medicine, Engineering, Education, Law), comparing sociodemographic features, personality characteristics and psychiatric symptoms. A heterogeneous group of 1,323 students were assessed using a semistructured interview, the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-Revised (PDQ-R), and the Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Statistical analysis included four logistic regression models, each fitted for one faculty, considering the other three as a control group. Associations were found in Medical and Engineering students concerning type of high school, school final score, and father?s socioeducational level. Factors associated with students of Law and Education included socioeducational characteristics, but stronger correlations were seen with PDQ-R personality scales and SCL-90 symptom clusters. In conclusion, four different profiles were identified. Medicine was not significantly related to personality and psychiatric factors. Engineering was related to male gender, choice of technical high school and father?s social level. Law was related to female gender and narcissistic personality profile. These data may be useful for counseling activities addressed to high school and university students.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fulcheri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zizza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paradiso
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bogetto
mesh_terms: D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders; D011594:Psychometrics; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires