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Sex differences, social desirability, masculinity, and the tendency to worry
S J McCann1, L L Stewin, R H Short
1Department of Psychology, University College of Cape Breton, Canada.
The Journal of Genetic Psychology
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Women report higher worry levels than men. This difference persists even when accounting for social desirability, masculinity, and trait anxiety, suggesting complex underlying factors in gender and worry.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gender Studies
- Anxiety Research
Background:
- Worry is a common psychological experience.
- Previous research suggests potential links between gender and emotional expression.
- Understanding factors influencing worry is crucial for mental health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between worry and sex differences.
- To explore the roles of social desirability, masculinity, and femininity in worry.
- To determine if sex differences in worry are explained by these psychological constructs.
Main Methods:
- 141 undergraduates completed self-report questionnaires.
- Measures included a worry scale, social desirability scale, sex role inventory, and trait anxiety scale.
- Statistical analyses, including multiple regression, were employed.
Main Results:
- Women reported significantly higher worry levels than men.
- Worry correlated negatively with social desirability and masculinity, but not femininity.
- Sex differences in worry were not fully explained by social desirability or masculinity alone.
- Controlling for trait anxiety, social desirability, and masculinity simultaneously did not eliminate sex differences in worry.
Conclusions:
- Sex differences in worry are complex and not solely attributable to social desirability or masculinity.
- Further research is needed to understand the multifaceted nature of gender and worry.
- These findings contribute to the understanding of psychological correlates of worry across genders.