Sex Differences in Neuroticism: A Quantitative Synthesis of Published Research
Australian & New Zealand Journal of PsychiatryPublished 1 December 1987
Anthony F. Jorm
Citations104
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.71
SNIP1.58
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TL;DR
A meta-analysis of published studies reporting sex- and age-specific norms for neuroticism inventories found a general sex difference, with females having higher scores than males, but the sex difference in neuroticism did not change.
Abstract
The personality trait of neuroticism is thought to be an important risk factor for depression. To ascertain the possible role of neuroticism in producing sex differences in depression, a meta-analysis was carried out on published studies reporting sex- and age-specific norms for neuroticism inventories. A general sex difference was found, with females having higher scores. However, the sex difference was greater in young and middle-aged adults than in children or the very elderly. This age trend in sex differences for neuroticism is similar in form to that previously reported for depression, except that the sex difference for depression completely disappeared in the very young and very old, but the sex difference in neuroticism did not.
Keywords
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