A Typology of Physical and Emotional Characteristics for Tailored Esthetic Management in Preadolescents

This study aimed to identify latent profiles of preadolescents based on their physical and emotional characteristics and to propose tailored aesthetic management strategies for each profile. Data were obtained from the KCYPS 2018, and a total of 2,594 preadolescents were included in the analysis. Physical factors included subjective health status, exercise time, and body mass index (BMI), while emotional factors included self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and depression. Latent Profile Analysis was conducted to identify distinct subgroups, followed by comparisons of profile characteristics and gender distribution. Based on the identified profiles, tailored aesthetic management strategies were developed. Two latent profiles were identified: the High Vitality Group and the Low Vitality Group. The HVG demonstrated higher levels of subjective health, physical activity, and self-esteem, with lower levels of depression and somatic symptoms. In contrast, the LVG showed poorer physical and emotional health indicators, and female participants were more likely to belong to this group. These findings suggest that gender differences should be considered when developing intervention strategies for preadolescents. Based on the profile characteristics, relaxation- and self-regulation-focused aesthetic management was recommended for the HVG, whereas activation- and recovery-focused management was suggested for the LVG. The findings indicate that integrating physical and emotional characteristics through latent profile analysis provides a useful basis for developing tailored aesthetic management programs that support healthy growth and holistic development during preadolescence.