Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the personality characteristics of medical students,and to provide a reference for conducting mental health education.MethodsThe Cattell 16 personality factors questionnaire was used to test 395 clinical medicine students,and the results were compared with the general norm of university students.ResultsThere were significant differences in 6 personality factors(in telligence,dominance-submissiveness,superego strength,susceptibility,conservatism,tension)between the medical students and the general norm of university students(P<0.05).The factor scores of stability,gallantry and skeptical were significantly higher in the male(14.02,12.42,9.52)than that of in the female(12.49, 11.36,8.89).But the scores of affecto thymia-sizo thymia,susceptibility,autia-praxernia were significantly higher in the female(11.02,10.77,13.93)than that of in the male(9.52,9.76,12.83,P<0.05).The factor scores of dominance-submissiveness,excitability,gallantry,susceptibility and autia-praxernia were significantly higher in urban students(12.89,15.77, 12.76,10.88,14.07)than that of inrural students(P<0.01).ConclusionPersonality characteristics of medical students are modesty,actuality,notension,conservation,and slow in thought.The gender difference in personality should be considered in mental health education among medical students.