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Sex differences in reasons for living
Maurizio Pompili1, Roberto Tatarelli, David Lester
1Department of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Roma, Italia. maurizio.pompili@uniroma1.it
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|July 11, 2006
Summary
Italian women undergraduates reported higher, yet less consistent, reasons for living scores compared to American counterparts in a recent study. This research explores gender differences in motivations for life among students.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Understanding motivations for living is crucial for mental health research.
- Previous studies have explored gender differences in reasons for living.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the reasons for living in Italian undergraduate students.
- To compare findings with previous research on American undergraduates.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 837 Italian undergraduate students.
- Utilized the Reasons For Living Inventory (RFL).
Main Results:
- Italian women scored higher on the RFL than their male counterparts.
- The consistency of scores among Italian women was lower than previously observed in American students.
- This suggests potential cultural or societal influences on motivations for living.
Conclusions:
- Gender differences in reasons for living persist across cultures.
- Italian undergraduate women exhibit distinct scoring patterns on the RFL.
- Further research is needed to explore the factors contributing to these observed differences.
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