Authors : Ishu Parihar; Krishna Dutt

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3pnmmp54

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/6d78krey

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar1261

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This study explores how age and gender shape personality — both through the lens of ancient Indian psychological theory and modern trait psychology. We looked at two frameworks side by side: the Triguna model from Sāṁkhya philosophy, which describes personality as three fundamental qualities (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas), and the widely used Big Five model, which covers Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. We surveyed 434 young adults between the ages of 18 and 30, roughly split between males and females, using the Vedic Personality Inventory and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Since the data doesn’t follow a normal distribution, Mann– Whitney U is used to compare groups. The results were telling. Gender made a clear difference — women scored notably higher on Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Interestingly, though, no significant gender differences showed up in the Triguna dimensions, hinting that the gunas may reflect something deeper in personality that sits beneath the surface-level traits that gender socialization tends to shape. Age, on the other hand, didn't seem to matter much — the two age groups (18–24 and 25–30) looked remarkably similar across both frameworks. These findings suggest that within young adulthood, personality is more strongly influenced by gender than by the relatively small age gap we studied, and that indigenous and contemporary models of personality can complement each other in meaningful ways.

Keywords : Triguna, Big Five Personality, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Young Adults.

References :

1. Agarwalla, S., Seshadri, B., & Krishnan, V. (2015). Impact of gunas and karma yoga on transformational leadership. Journal of Human Values, 21(1), 11–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685815569590
2. Betal, C. (2015). Role of Trigunas in Framing of Personality. Indian Streams Research Journal. 5(2), 1-5.
3. Bhagavad Gītā. (Trans. & commentary). Gita Press.
4. Datar, S., & Murthy, C. (2012). Combination of Trigunas in different groups of people. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 38, 214–219.
5. Deshpande, S., Nagendra, H. R., & Nagarathna, R. (2009). A randomized control trial of the effect of yoga on gunas (personality) and self-esteem in normal healthy volunteers. International Journal of Yoga, 2(1), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.43287
6. Hoehne, S. (2025). Big Five personality factors differentially related to positive and negative affect intensity of autobiographical memories. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.70039
7. Jafarnejad, P., Vali Elah, F., Moradi, A. R., & Shokri, O. (2005). A study of the relationship between the big five factors of personality, coping styles and mental health in undergraduate students. 35(1), 51–74.
8. Khanna, P., Singh, K., Singla, S., & Verma, V. (2013). Relationship between Triguna theory and well-being indicators. International Journal of Yoga - Philosophy, Psychology and Parapsychology, 1. https://doi.org/10.4103/2347-5633.157888
9. Kumar, P., & Yadav, A. (2024). Role of “Triguna” personality in the psychological well-being of women. 10, 11–17. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13762169
10. Lin, Y. (2024). Adolescent insomnia and the Big Five personality. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 49, 221–227. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/49/20232110
11. Modh, S. (2014). Formulating a new three energy framework of personality for conflict analysis and resolution based on Triguna concept of Bhagavad Gita. Journal of Human Values, 20(2), 153–165. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685814539415
12. Pesic, D., Adzic, T., Vukovic, O., Kalanj, M., & Leĉic-Tosevski, D. (2018). Analysis of personality disorder profiles obtained by five-factor personality model. Vojnosanitetski Pregled, 77, 175–175. https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP180424175P
13. Rastogi, M., & Kewalramani, S. (2010). Emotional intelligence and Triguna. Proceedings, 261–268.
14. Souza, L., & Faro, A. (2024). Association between sleep quality and personality based on the Big Five factor model in a non-clinical sample. Salud Mental, 47, 271–278. https://doi.org/10.17711/SM.0185-3325.2024.033
15. Srivastava, K. (2012). Concept of personality: Indian perspective. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 21(2), 89–93. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-6748.119586

16. Zhao, R., Wang, Y., Wang, Q., Cao, B., & Ren, L. (2025). Bridging the connections between Big Five personality traits and mental well-being among medical staff: A network analysis. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7767568/v1