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Relationship Between Triguna and Big-Five Factors in Young Adults


Authors : Ishu Parihar; Krishna Dutt; Suvarna Sharma

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


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/ys4383yv

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/mryftddp

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar742

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


Abstract : The present study examines the relationship between the Triguna dimensions of personality—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—and the Big Five personality factors among young adults. Drawing upon classical Indian psychological theory and contemporary trait psychology, the study aims to explore conceptual convergence between these two frameworks. A sample of 434 participants aged 18–30 years (male and female) was assessed using the Vedic Personality Inventory (VPI) and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Given deviations from normality, Kendall’s tau correlation was employed for statistical analysis. The results revealed that Sattva was found to be negatively correlated with Neuroticism and positively correlated with Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Rajas showed a positive association with Neuroticism and negative associations with Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, while Tamas showed a positive correlation with Neuroticism and negative correlations with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. All observed relationships were statistically significant and aligned with theoretical expectations. The findings support meaningful convergence between Triguna theory and the Big Five model, suggesting that Triguna dimensions may represent underlying psychological dispositions that shape observable personality traits. The study makes contribution to the growing body of indigenous psychology research by empirically integrating classical Indian and contemporary Western personality frameworks.

Keywords : Triguna, Big Five Personality Factors, Sattva, Rajas, Tamas, Indigenous Psychology, Personality Traits, Young Adults.

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The present study examines the relationship between the Triguna dimensions of personality—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—and the Big Five personality factors among young adults. Drawing upon classical Indian psychological theory and contemporary trait psychology, the study aims to explore conceptual convergence between these two frameworks. A sample of 434 participants aged 18–30 years (male and female) was assessed using the Vedic Personality Inventory (VPI) and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Given deviations from normality, Kendall’s tau correlation was employed for statistical analysis. The results revealed that Sattva was found to be negatively correlated with Neuroticism and positively correlated with Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Rajas showed a positive association with Neuroticism and negative associations with Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, while Tamas showed a positive correlation with Neuroticism and negative correlations with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. All observed relationships were statistically significant and aligned with theoretical expectations. The findings support meaningful convergence between Triguna theory and the Big Five model, suggesting that Triguna dimensions may represent underlying psychological dispositions that shape observable personality traits. The study makes contribution to the growing body of indigenous psychology research by empirically integrating classical Indian and contemporary Western personality frameworks.

Keywords : Triguna, Big Five Personality Factors, Sattva, Rajas, Tamas, Indigenous Psychology, Personality Traits, Young Adults.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - March - 2026

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