Sex versus Age Differences in Adolescents' Responses to the Hand Test

Abstract

The Hand Test has been used to study sex differences between boys and girls in Grade 2. Stoner ( 2 ) found significant sex differences ( p < .05) on 11 out of 24 variables measured by the test. However, no research has been published utilizing the Hand Test in investigating sex differences during adolescence. The present study addressed this issue. In addition, since even a difference of a year or two could prove critical during this transition period, the study also assessed differences between age groups separated by one year? Subjem were 65 girls and 39 boys who were every third name on the rolls of a middle school which includes Grades 6, 7, and 8, located in a suburban middle-class comrnuniry in Northeastern Ohio. The Hand Test was administered individually in a small private room and according to standard ins:ructions in the manual ( 3 ) . Mann-Whitney Us indicated a significant difference ( p < .05) on only one category between the sexes. Boys gave significantly more Exhibition responses. MannWhitney Us comparing the two age groups (12versus 13-yr.-olds), however, showed five significant differences ( p < .05). The 12-yr.-olds had significantly higher median scores on Active and Environment. This suggests a more environmental orientation and a tendency for this age group to become more involved with impersonal activities. The 13-yr.-olds showed significantly higher medians on Directive, Withdrawal, and Failure. The Withdrawal score is probably an artifact of the Failure score. This is consistent with the findings of Ames, et al. ( I ) , which indicated that the 13-yr.-olds were more withdrawn, introverted, and gave more refusals on the Rorschach than the other age groups, especially the 12-yr.-olds who gave very few refusals. The higher Directive median of the 13-yr.-olds reflects an attitude of dominance and a greater readiness to enforce one's will on others, perhaps because the 13-yr.-olds were among the oldest students in this middle school and so occupied a superior position there. While Stoner ( 2 ) found many significant sex differences among her second grade scudencs, age differences were much more prevalent among the present adolescents. Perhaps the rapid developmend changes which occur during adolescence are mote likely to be manifest in age differences, temporarily dampening sex differences. The present study suggests that the Hand Test is sensitive to differences in both age and sex. The situation appears complex and requires longitudinal testing at many ages before definitive sratements can be made.