사상체질진단도구(SCAT)와 민간 사상체질 판정 결과에 기반한 건강관련 행태 및 식습관 비교 연구

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Sasang typology, founded by Dongmu Lee Je-Ma (1838–1900), is a traditional Korean medical system that classifies individuals based on constitutional traits and posits that physiological, pathological, pharmacological, and dietary principles should differ according to one’s constitution. Although numerous studies have explored the relationship between Sasang constitution and food preferences, most have focused on single food items, limiting their reflection of actual dietary behaviors. Moreover, inconsistencies in diagnostic criteria and food classification across experts and references have hindered the establishment of a standardized framework for constitution-based dietary research.
This study aimed to analyze food preferences and the yin–yang indices of foods according to Sasang constitution, by integrating results from the Sasang Constitution Analysis Tool version 2 (SCAT2; hereinafter SCAT) and diagnoses made by private Sasang typology experts. A total of 90 adult women residing in the metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon) participated between November 3, 2016, and January 31, 2017. After excluding cases where the difference between the first and second SCAT types was less than 10%, 74 participants were included in the final analysis. SCAT diagnoses were based on facial features, voice, body shape, and questionnaire scores, while expert diagnoses used O-ring and pendulum testing. Participants also completed a questionnaire on general characteristics and food preferences. Data were analyzed by SCAT constitution (n=74), expert diagnosis (n=18), and the concordant group where both methods matched (n=12). Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 23, following approval by the Gachon University Institutional Review Board (1044396-201605-HR-041-01).

The main findings were as follows.

1. The overall concordance rate between SCAT and expert diagnoses was 72.2%, with agreement observed in four Tae-eumin (22.2%), five Soyangin (27.8%), and four Soeumin (22.2%) cases.

2. Among SCAT evaluation domains, the questionnaire showed the highest agreement (73.0%), followed by body shape (62.2%), facial features (56.8%), and voice (52.8%).

3. The mean BMI values by SCAT diagnosis were Tae-eumin (25.57±2.44) > Soyangin (21.22±1.78) > Soeumin (19.64±2.02), showing a significant decreasing trend. However, in both the expert and SCAT–expert concordant groups, the BMI of Soeumin was significantly lower than that of Tae-eumin (p<0.05), while no significant difference was observed between Tae-eumin and Soyangin. This indicates that the criteria for body type classification differ between SCAT and expert diagnoses, particularly in defining the Soyangin type.

4. Analysis of the yin–yang preference index for 84 foods classified into seven categories revealed that the SCAT group showed 17 yang-type foods and no yin-type foods, while the expert group had 20 yang-type and 25 yin-type foods. The concordant group showed 18 yang-type and 32 yin-type foods.

5. Only three foods—garlic, crown daisy, and draft beer—were consistently identified as yang-type across all groups. When compared with previous literature, only draft beer matched traditional classifications. However, between the expert
and concordant groups, 13 yang-type and 19 yin-type foods showed concordance, demonstrating 54% and 63% consistency with prior data, respectively.

These findings suggest that dietary tendencies by Sasang constitution partially align with traditional medical theory and can provide foundational data for developing constitution-specific dietary guidelines. This study holds significance in two respects: first, it validated the reliability of constitutional diagnosis by integrating SCAT and expert judgment; second, it applied yin–yang analysis to food preference patterns, thereby linking traditional dietary theory with modern nutritional science. Despite limitations in sample size and self-reported data, the study highlights the need for larger-scale and qualitative research to clarify the contextual basis of constitution-specific food selection. Overall, the results contribute to empirical evidence supporting personalized dietary counseling and menu planning based on Sasang typology, and point toward further refinement of SCAT criteria and the standardization of yin–yang indices for clinical applications in constitutional nutrition.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Ⅰ. 서론 1
• 1. 연구의 필요성 1
• 2. 연구 문제 5
• 3. 연구의 제한점 5
• Ⅱ. 연구방법 7
• 1. 연구대상 7
• 2. 연구기간 및 장소 7
• 3. 연구도구 8
• 4. 연구설계 및 절차 12
• 5. 통계분석 13
• Ⅲ. 연구결과 14
• 1. 일반적 및 건강관련 특성 14
• 2. 사상체질에 대한 인식 17
• 3. 사상체질 분포도 18
• 4. 사상체질별 안면, 음성, 체형 및 설문분석 20
• 5. 사상체질별 BMI 22
• 6. 사상체질에 따른 식품 기호 및 식습관 23
• 7. 사상체질에 따른 소화생리 38
• 8. 사상체질에 따른 식품기호도 47
• 9. 사상체질에 따른 식품기호도 음·양지수 57
• Ⅳ. 결론 및 제언 62
• 1. 결론 62
• 2. 제언 63
• 참고문헌 65
• 부록 68
• ABSTRACT 82