Comparison of Feelings of Inferiority among University Students with Autotelic, Average, and Nonautotelic Personalities

BACKGROUND: Autotelic personality (AP) is known to have a positive effect on the quality of life. We hypothesized that inferiority feelings may be less pronounced in individuals with AP than in those with an average (AV) or a nonautotelic personality (NAP). AIMS: This study aimed to compare inferiority feelings among three personality groups: An AP group, an AV group, and an NAP group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey among 148 undergraduate students aged 18-24 undertaken in Okayama, Japan. Participants completed the Flow Experience Checklist and Inferiority Feelings Scale. RESULTS: With the number of flow activities, participants were classified into three groups: 3+ for AP (n = 28, 18.9%), 1-2 for AV (n = 72, 48.6%), and 0 for NAP (n = 48, 32.4%). One-way analysis of variance showed significant differences among the three groups with respect to the Inferiority Feelings Scale. Multiple comparison analysis using Tukey's test showed that inferiority feelings in AP were significantly less pronounced than in the NAP group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that AP was lesser than NAP in association with pronounced inferiority feelings.