Pitanga

Abstract

Objective: To explore the differences between male and female college students in 16 personality factors and the related factors. Methods: Meta-analytic method was used to calculate 22 group data in 21 studies which with Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) as a tool from 2000 to 2009. Results: The scores of 16PF in female college students were higher than that in male college students in 7 personality factors (warmth, intellect, liveliness, sensitivity, abstractness, privateness, apprehension), and the average effect sizes ranged from −0. 41 to −0. 08 (Ps < 0. 01). The scores in male college students were higher than that in female college students in 2 personality factors (emotional stability, perseverance), and the average effect sizes were 0. 19 and 0.08 (Ps < 0. 001). In the multilevel models, warmth, self-reliance and tension were related to age group (β₁ =0. 05, −0. 04, 0. 04; Ps < 0. 05). Emotional stability and social boldness were related to year-of-publication (β1, = 0. 04, 0. 05; Ps < 0. 01). Liveliness was related to scale edition (β1, = 0. 07, P < 0. 05). Openness to change was related to sample size (β1 = 0. 001, P < 0. 05). Openness to change and tension were related to quality-of-publication (β1 = 0. 13, −0. II; Ps < 0. 05). Self-reliance was related to region (β1, = −0. 15, P < 0.001). Conclusion: There are marked differences between male and female college students in 9 personality factors. Influenced by age group, year-of-publication, scale edition, sample size, quality-of-publication, region, the differences between male and female college students' scores in 7 personality factors (warmth, emotional stability, liveliness, social boldness, openness to change, self-reliance, tension) show an increasing tendency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract)