Dimensional Personality profiles in Turkish-origin individuals and a comparison group in Germany: a multivariate analysis: cultural context and migration-related experiences

Dimensional Personality Profiles in Turkish-Origin Individuals and a Comparison Group in Germany:A Multivariate Analysis

Cultural context and migration-related experiences are increasingly recognised as relevant factors influencing the expression of personality traits and psychopathology. However, dimensional investigations of personality profiles in migrant populations remain limited. Understanding such variations is important for culturally sensitive assessment and clinical interpretation.

The present study aimed to examine differences in dimensional personality profiles between individuals of Turkish origin living in Germany and a comparison group without Turkish-origin background. A secondary aim was to explore whether associations between demographic variables and personality dimensions differ across groups.

A total of 259 participants were included, 118 individuals of Turkish origin and 141 individuals without Turkish-origin background recruited from the general population in Germany. Personality styles were assessed using the Personality Style and Disorders Inventory (PSSI), which captures 14-dimensional personality styles. Age and gender were included as covariates.

Group differences were analysed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), with group as the fixed factor and personality dimensions as dependent variables. Multivariate assumptions were assessed prior to analysis. Pillai’s Trace was used as the primary multivariate test due to its robustness.

A significant multivariate effect of group was observed (Pillai’s Trace V = 0.282, F(14,242) = 6.79, p < .001), indicating overall differences in personality profiles between groups. Follow-up univariate analyses revealed significant differences across multiple personality dimensions, with the largest effect sizes observed in negativistic, schizoid, and schizotypal styles. Additional differences were identified in several other domains, although effect sizes ranged from small to moderate. The direction of effects indicated that certain personality styles were more pronounced in the Turkish-origin group, while others were elevated in the comparison group.

Gender effects also differed between groups. In the Turkish-origin group, females showed higher scores on several dimensions, including schizoid, dependent, negativistic, depressive, and self-sacrificing traits, whereas males showed higher histrionic traits. In the comparison group, females showed higher scores on borderline, self-uncertain, negativistic, and depressive dimensions, suggesting that the relationship between demographic variables and personality expression differs across sociocultural contexts.

These findings indicate that dimensional personality profiles vary between Turkish-origin individuals and a comparison group in Germany. Importantly, these differences should not be interpreted as inherent group characteristics but rather understood within broader sociocultural, environmental, and migration-related frameworks. The observed interaction effects further highlight that demographic influences on personality may be context-dependent.

From a clinical perspective, these findings have implications for culturally sensitive diagnostic assessment and may influence the interpretation of personality-related symptom profiles in psychiatric and psychopharmacological settings. Incorporating cultural context into assessment and treatment planning may help to reduce misinterpretation and improve the accuracy of clinical decision-making. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and integrate biological and environmental factors to better understand the mechanisms underlying these differences.

References

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