Development and Validation of a Hindi Prakriti Assessment Questionnaire Based on an English Validated Prakriti Scale: A Psychosomatic Constitution-Based Ayurvedic Tool

Abstract

Background

Prakriti is a fundamental concept of Ayurveda that represents the psychosomatic constitution of an individual. It reflects the relative dominance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha and is expressed through physical, physiological, psychological, and behavioural characteristics. Prakriti assessment is clinically important for preventive health care, diagnosis, prognosis, selection of diet and lifestyle, drug selection, dose determination, and individualized treatment planning. However, Prakriti assessment is often subjective and may vary among physicians because many classical features are descriptive and assessor-dependent. An English Prakriti questionnaire was previously validated after item analysis and Cronbach’s alpha reliability testing by Dr. Parameswarappa S. Byadgi and Dr. Neera Saini. The present study was undertaken to develop and validate a Hindi Prakriti Assessment Questionnaire based on the selected validated English questionnaire items.

Aim

To develop and validate a culturally appropriate Hindi Prakriti Assessment Questionnaire based on the already validated English Prakriti questionnaire for assessing the psychosomatic constitution of individuals from an Ayurvedic perspective.

Materials and Methods

This methodological validation study involved translation, linguistic adaptation, and validation of selected items from the validated English Prakriti questionnaire into Hindi. The process included item selection, translation, back-translation, linguistic evaluation, face validity, pilot testing, reliability testing, and statistical validation. The Hindi questionnaire consisted of 32 questions representing Vata, Pitta, and Kapha features across physical, physiological, psychological, and behavioural domains. Apparently healthy volunteers aged 18–60 years were included. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Validity and descriptive statistical parameters were calculated. Data were analysed using SPSS.

Results

A 32-item Hindi Prakriti Assessment Questionnaire was developed and validated. The questionnaire included items related to body size, body weight, height, bone structure, complexion, skin, hair, face, eyes, nose, teeth, lips, nails, appetite, taste preference, thirst, digestion, bowel habit, sleep, speech, physical activity, sweating, posture, emotions, anger, lifestyle orientation, response to problems, job preference, dream pattern, and memory. The internal consistency of the Hindi questionnaire was satisfactory, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.751. The validity value was 0.907. The mean score was 66.89, standard deviation was 9.59, median was 67.50, minimum score was 46, maximum score was 94, range was 32, variance was 91.99, and interquartile range was 14. The scoring system enabled determination of Eka-Doshaja, Dwandvaja/Sansargaja, and Samadoshaja Prakriti based on the percentage dominance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Conclusion

The developed Hindi Prakriti Assessment Questionnaire is a reliable, valid, culturally appropriate, and clinically useful tool for assessment of Ayurvedic Prakriti among Hindi-speaking individuals. It improves objectivity, reproducibility, and uniformity in Prakriti assessment and may be useful in clinical practice, academic training, community screening, preventive health care, and research related to Ayurveda and personalized medicine.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2394.6547.202606

How to cite this article:
Singh P, Byadgi P S, Srivastava M. Development and Validation of a Hindi Prakriti Assessment Questionnaire Based on an English Validated Prakriti Scale: A Psychosomatic Constitution-Based Ayurvedic Tool. J Adv Res Ayur Yoga Unani Sidd Homeo. 2026;13(1&2): 41-52.