Research on Relationship between Neuroticism and Gender

Research on Relationship between Neuroticism and Gender
The current research study has been conducted with the intention of noting the demographic peculiarity of gender that influence occurrence of neuroticism tendencies. To address this need, the research used pre-structured questionnaires administered through between subjects design to collect primary data. 221 research participants were recruited using purposive selection approaches that focused on convenience whereby psychology class students acted as the participants, along with their family members. The primary data was subjected to data analysis using SPSS software whereby it was noted that gender had some influence on neuroticism since the female participants (n = 130; mean = 3.1538; Std. Dev. = .76969) were noted to have a higher score when compared to their male counterparts (n = 91; mean = 3.0879; Std. Dev. = .67327). The research concludes with the assertion that the results validate claims that gender can be used to model neuroticism. It recommends that future research include a larger sample to make the results more generalizable, address ethics concerns through a confidentiality agreement, and include more questions to address the multidimensional nature of neuroticism.
Research on Relationship between Neuroticism and Gender
Introduction and Background
Neuroticism is the psychological term referring to the disorder associated with the tendency or predilection for expressing negative emotions. In fact, neurotic persons are associated with depressive states where they suffer more severe cases of anxiety, anger, envy and/or guilt.

In this case, a neurotic person will be sensitive to environment stress, perceiving normal situations as major and menacing. For that matter, they are likely to despair when faced problematic trivial frustrations. Within the confines of psychology, the subject of neuroticism is associated with shyness, self-consciousness, and the tendency to internalize negativity, aggression, and panic disorders (Weiner, Schinka & Velicer, 2012). In this respect, neuroticism can be understood as a psychological disorder characterized by negative emotions.
Due to psychologists’ interest in understanding the nuances and peculiarities of neuroticism, there have been some studies commissioned to evaluate its correlation to different populations. Case in point, Fanous et al. (2002) evaluated the correlation between gender and neuroticism where it was initially noted that females generally reported higher incidences of neuroticism when compared to their male counterparts. Applying qualitative approach that used the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, which entailed the use of structured interviews to collect primary data, the research noted that there was a possibility of there being a correlation between gender and neuroticism although that relationship could not be definitely ascertained. In essence, the research concluded that although it was unable to establish the relationship (or lack thereof) between gender and neuroticism, additional research was required since the results would have implications for diagnosis, classification and treatment of the disorder (Fanous et al., 2002). On the other hand, Weisberg, DeYoung and Hirsh (2011) had no such difficulty in noting the relationship between gender and neuroticism. Applying a quantitative approach, the research study went on to report that females reported higher scores when compared to their female counterparts (Weisberg, DeYoung & Hirsh, 2011). As such, the current study intends to add to the study of neuroticism by presenting the gender bases for individual differences to facilitate psychology understanding of the subject.
Methodology
Research design
This study adopted a mixed-method design to conduct the research. The design involved the use of questionnaires as tools for collecting primary data and between subjects design to assign the questionnaires to the selected population sample. The secondary data was collected from peer-reviewed articles and books relating to the research topic. The questionnaires were presented to the selected respondents, bearing in mind that there was a need to collect information from both male and female to facilitate the comparison and ensure that the results were a true reflection of the population (Collins, 2011). The collected primary data was then be subjected to statistical analyses using SPSS software version 19, which highlighted key data trends and the findings compared to the results of secondary data analysis.
Sample
The sample population was selected using convenience sampling strategies whereby the participants were identified from among the psychology students in the BPP psychology class, along with their family members (Creswell, 2013). 221 participants were recruited for the study to complete the questionnaires. A gender review of the participants reveals that 130 (58.8%) of them were of the female gender while the remaining 91 (41.2%) of them are of the male gender. A review of the participants’ ages shows that their mean age was 26.55 years. As such, the population sample was selected with the view to collecting relevant primary data.
Instruments
The research used a pre-structured questionnaire as the instrument for collected primary data from the selected participants (Laurel, 2013). The questionnaire was divided into two sections. The first section collected information on the participants’ demographics, focusing on age, gender, ethnic group and highest education level. While the participants were left to identify what held true in their case for the first two questions, they relied on a Likert scale to denote their ethnic group and highest level of education. The second section presented eight questions that sought to identify the participants’ level of neuroticism. To facilitate easy analysis sand results comparison, the eight questions applied a Likert scale whereby the participants scored their responses on the basis of how well they agreed or disagreed with the statement. In this respect, the present research applied questionnaires as instruments to collect mutually exhaustive and exclusive information that met the study objective.
Procedure
The research applied a five-step process to collect and evaluate primary data. Firstly, the questionnaires were administered to the selected participants. Secondly, the completed questionnaires were collected and checked for completeness. Thirdly, the data contained in the questionnaires was transferred into a format that was easily read by SPSS software. This involved transferring the answers to an excel spreadsheet. Finally, the collected primary data was evaluated using SPSS software that conducted statistical analysis to determine the codes and trends relevant to the research (Saunders, Lewis & Thornhill, 2012). In this respect, the research procedure entailed collecting primary data by availing selected respondents with questionnaires, collecting their responses and subjecting it to statistical analysis that determined codes and trends.
Results
A review of the results reveals that 221 respondents completed the questionnaires. A gender review of the respondents reveals that 130 (58.8%) of them were of the female gender while the remaining 91 (41.2%) of them are of the male gender. On average, females scored higher on neuroticism (n = 130; mean = 3.1538; Std. Dev. = .76969) than their male counterparts (n = 91; mean = 3.0879; Std. Dev. = .67327) (see Table 1, Figures 1 & 2). The differences of mean neuroticism results for the female and male genders have been further elucidated in a graphical format to show that the female participants had a higher mean neuroticism score when compared to their male counterparts (see Figure 3). This difference was statistically significant t(219) = .659, p<.05. The results make it clear that the distribution of data is normal. In addition, the results make it evident that there is a correlation between gender and neuroticism.
Table SEQ Table * ARABIC 1. Descriptive statistics for mean neuroticism
Gender N Mean Std. deviation
Female 130 3.1538 .76969
Male 91 3.0879 .67327

Figure SEQ Figure * ARABIC 1. Histogram of mean neuroticism for female participants

Figure SEQ Figure * ARABIC 2. Histogram of mean neuroticism for female participants

Figure SEQ Figure * ARABIC 3. Bar chart of differences in mean neuroticism between males and females
Conclusion
There is a general consensus that people (irrespective of gender) will display neurotic tendencies that see them expressing negative emotions. In addition, it can be accepted that (based on the results from the current study) there is a correlation between gender and neuroticism whereby females generally report higher incidences of neuroticism when compared to their male counterparts. Still, there are concerns that bring the research results into questions. Firstly, there was an issue of ethics and protecting the participants rights since their consent was not sought through a confidentially agreement before being recruited and asked to participate in the research. Secondly, the research value has been reduced by the fact that it only focused on two factors when neuroticism is a multidimensional factor whose evaluation would only be complete by evaluating multiple aspects through different questions. Thirdly, the research only included a small sample group of 221 participants that reduced its generalizability when it is considered that the results are intended to inform general psychology knowledge and practice. As such, it is recommended that additional research be conducted that takes into account the three shortcomings to improve the value of the results and generalizability. On the other hand, it must be acknowledged that the results of the current research study presents the possibility of modeling neuroticism against gender to present a predictive model that explains psychological factors. It is also important to note that the current research has value in presenting the factors that influence personal choices as a way of predicting human behavior and responses.
References
Collins, H. (2011). Creative Research. Lausanne: AVA Publishing.Creswell, J. (2013). Research Design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.Fanous, A., Gardner, C., Prescott, C., Cancro, R. & Kendler, K. (2002). Neuroticism, Major Depression and Gender: A population-based twin study. Psychol Med., 32(4), 719-728.
Laurel, B. (2013). Design Research: Methods and Perspectives. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2012). Research methods for business students, Harlow: Pearson.Weiner, I., Schinka, J. & Velicer, V. (2012). Handbook of Psychology: Volume 2 – Research methods in psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.Weisberg, Y., DeYoung, C. & Hirsh, J. (2011). Gender Differences in Personality across the Ten Aspects of the Big Five. Front Psychol., 2, 178.