Heterogeneity of Medical Students’ Perceived Involution and Its Associated Factors: A Latent Profile Analysis

Objectives: This study aimed to identify latent profiles of perceived involution among medical students and examine their associated demographic and psychological factors. Methods: From March to July 2026, 499 medical students were recruited through convenience sampling at Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, China. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and measures of perceived involution, academic involution climate, self-concept clarity, and perceived stress. Latent profile analysis was performed using the 18 perceived involution items, followed by R3STEP multinomial logistic regression to examine factors associated with profile membership. Results: Three perceived in-volution profiles were identified: low (25.7%), medium (46.9%), and high (27.5%), with an entropy of 0.872. Academic involution climate, self-concept clarity, and perceived stress scores differed significantly across the three profiles (p < 0.05). Multinomial logistic regression showed that only-child status, a stronger academic involution climate, and higher perceived stress were associated with greater odds of being classified into the high perceived involution group rather than the low or medium group. Conclusions: Perceived involution among medical students exhibited heterogeneity, with the medium profile accounting for the largest proportion. Academic involution climate, perceived stress, and family characteristics were associated with classification into different perceived involution groups. These findings provide a reference for understanding differences in medical students’ perceived involution and developing appropriate student support strategies.