Joana KatterYork University

Toronto, Canada

Presented at Health Psychology LectureNovember 3rd, 2009

Gender differences in the Gender differences in the relation between domain relation between domain specific stress and social specific stress and social

support from various sourcessupport from various sources

Stress and Social Support People who have strong intimate links

to others have better mental and physical health.

Emotional support is particularly effective in reducing stress and anxiety.

Student stress has health and academic consequences.

Socio-cultural construct › Roles, behaviours, attributes and activities

a particular society deems appropriate for men and women.

Gender is related to:› Stressors an individual experiences› The amount, type and sources of social

support sought

Gender

Explore gender differences in:› Domain specific student stress› Social Support from multiple sources› Association between student stress and

social support

Factor analysis of the Brief College Student Hassle Scale

Purpose

Participants 150 First Year University Students

› 125 female, 25 male› Mean age: 18.8

Measures Brief College Student Hassle Scale Multidimensional Scale of Perceived

Social Support

Emotional Support

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988).

12-item measure (7 point scale)“There is a special person who is around when I am

in need.”“I have friends with whom I can share my joys and

sorrows.”

Alpha= .88

Student Stress The Brief College Hassles Scale (Blankstein,

Flett, & Koledin, 1991).

20-item measure, spanning 9 different domains

7-point scale› Items include academic deadlines, future

job perspectives, and relationships with family members.

Alpha= .81

Factor Analysis of Brief College Student Hassles

Scale

Factor Summary Academic

› Program Requirements, Job Prospects Family

› Relationship with parents, family expectations Financial

› Financial Security, Owing Money Romantic

› Relationship with boyfriend/girlfriend Work

› Job Satisfaction Housekeeping

› Household/dorm chores

Gender Differences in Student Stress

0

1

2

3

4

5

Academic Family Financial Romantic Work Housekeeping

Male Female

*

* - p < .05

Gender Differences in Perceived Emotional

Support

0

1

2

3

4

5

Family Friend Significant Other

Male Female

*

* - p < .05

Association between sources of social support

Men› No correlation between social support from

different sources

Women› Correlations between family support and

Support from friends (r = .311), and family support and support from significant others (r = .328)

› Correlation between support from friends and support from significant others (r = .340)

Association between Stress and Social Support

Men› Emotional support from friends and work

hassles ( r = -.408)

Women› Emotional support from family and family

hassles (r = -.185)› Emotional support from significant others

and romantic Hassles (r = .182)

Limitations and Future Directions

Unequal gender distribution Only one type of social support

assessed Correlational Design

Factor Analysis› Small Sample› Need for a confirmatory factor analysis

AcknowledgementsEsther Greenglass

Linda ChengNoelia Vasquez

Statistical Consulting Service

Thank You!

Joana Katterkatterjo@yorku.ca