Gender Differences In Self-perceptions Research Articles

Changes in married older adults' self-perceptions of aging: The role of gender.

To what extent self-perceptions of aging and their correlates in later life may be gendered remains relatively unexplored. In particular, little is known about how changes in the health and spousal relationship quality over time contribute to self-perceptions of aging among married men and women. To clarify these links, we analyzed panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (2008-2016) on married individuals aged 65 years and older (N = 2,623) using within-between random effects models. Findings showed no gender difference in self-perceptions of aging at baseline and in the rate of change, and poorer health and spousal relationship quality were generally associated with less positive self-perceptions of aging. However, men and women differed in how within-person changes in health and spousal relationship quality were associated with their self-perceptions of aging. Increases in spousal strain and chronic conditions were associated with less positive self-perceptions of aging on that wave for men, whereas increases in functional limitations were associated with less positive self-perceptions of aging on that wave for women. Finally, a person-mean of spousal strain had a moderating effect for men, such that men with more overall spousal strain reported less positive self-perceptions of aging across a range of chronic conditions, compared to the men with less overall spousal strain. Findings highlight the intersection of social resources, health, and self-perceptions of aging, suggesting that gender differences in older adults' self-perceptions of aging are contextualized by different behaviors and social experiences among married men and women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Gender Differences in Self-perception of Health at a Wellness Center.

Objective: Understanding gender differences in self-perception of health (SPH) and self-efficacy can inform the design of tailored programs to improve health behaviors. We aimed to assess gender-specific differences in SPH and self-efficacy for maintaining wellness habits at a work-place wellness center. Methods: A workplace wellness center member survey was conducted in 2016. Information about SPH and self-efficacy to maintain wellness habits was assessed. Data were analyzed to assess gender differences in SPH and self-efficacy. Results: The survey was completed by 2784 members (mean age, 49.2 years; 68.2% women). SPH was similar between genders despite more men reporting health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and cigarette smoking. Women had higher self-efficacy about maintaining healthy diet, but the difference was not clinically meaningful. Women had lower self-efficacy in their ability to maintain physical activity. Conclusions: In this large cohort of worksite wellness center members, men and women had similar self-perception of health despite higher disease burden among men. Women had lower self-efficacy in their ability to maintain physical activity level but similar self-efficacy for maintaining healthy diet. These differences may inform the design of tailored wellness programs to meet the needs of both genders.

Endoscopic ultrasonography in acute biliary pancreatitis: when to do it before ERCP

Previous research has demonstrated that men are stereotyped as agentic and women are stereotyped as communal. Therefore, perceived importance of agentic versus communal traits for success in science may contribute to subtle gender biases in science. Perceptions of science faculty may be especially important to investigate due to their positions as role models, exemplars, and gatekeepers. The present study tested the hypothesis that agentic traits are considered more important for success in science than communal traits. Faculty (n = 115) and undergraduate students (n = 122) from science departments at large, research-intensive universities were surveyed using either an open- or closed-ended format, so as to gauge what traits come to mind as well as those possibly related to success in science. Both faculty and students, regardless of gender, perceived agentic traits as more important for success in science than communal traits. Additionally, there were no gender differences in self-perceptions of agentic traits, though women perceived themselves as more communal than men. Finally, participants' perceptions of their own traits correlated with those they perceived as necessary for success in science.

Agentic traits are associated with success in science more than communal traits

Previous research has demonstrated that men are stereotyped as agentic and women are stereotyped as communal. Therefore, perceived importance of agentic versus communal traits for success in science may contribute to subtle gender biases in science. Perceptions of science faculty may be especially important to investigate due to their positions as role models, exemplars, and gatekeepers. The present study tested the hypothesis that agentic traits are considered more important for success in science than communal traits. Faculty (n=115) and undergraduate students (n=122) from science departments at large, research-intensive universities were surveyed using either an open- or closed-ended format, so as to gauge what traits come to mind as well as those possibly related to success in science. Both faculty and students, regardless of gender, perceived agentic traits as more important for success in science than communal traits. Additionally, there were no gender differences in self-perceptions of agentic traits, though women perceived themselves as more communal than men. Finally, participants' perceptions of their own traits correlated with those they perceived as necessary for success in science.

Gender Differences in Clinical Confidence: A Nationwide Survey of Resident Physicians in Japan

The number of women physicians is increasing in Japan. The authors investigated gender differences in self-perceptions of clinical confidence. This cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2007 by using a stratified random sample of 1,124 second-year resident physicians. Residents' confidence levels were assessed, using four-point Likert scales (e.g., 1 for "not at all" to 4 for "very much"), in four competency sets: physical exams, procedural skills, interpretations of clinical tests, and physician-patient relationships and social service application. Gender effect was investigated for clinical confidence levels by general linear models adjusting for age, types of hospitals, number of clinical experiences, satisfaction with residency conditions, future career, and perspectives on life and work. The overall mean confidence scores in the four sets ranged between 2.9 and 3.1. Compared with men, women were younger (P = .001), more likely to be oriented more to life than to work (P < .001), less interested in doctor of medical science degrees (P = .001), and less likely to be satisfied with residency conditions (P = .020). A significantly greater proportion of women chose "family" (70% versus 54% for men) as "the most important thing in life." Compared with men, women were less confident in the majority of competency areas even after adjusting for the number of clinical experiences. This nationwide resident survey demonstrated gender differences in clinical confidence levels. Future studies require careful monitoring of self-confidence and its impact on physicians' professional development.

Gender differences in the self-assessment of surgical residents

Background Despite equivalent performance as assessed by objective external measures, women tend to underestimate their abilities compared with their male counterparts. Methods The difference in ordinal values from faculty and resident self-evaluations was calculated for each general and plastic surgery resident. Objective external performance measures were compared for female and male residents. Results Male and female residents performed equivalently. All residents underestimated their abilities compared with faculty assessment; however, general surgery residents did so to a greater degree ( P < .05). Female residents demonstrated a greater degree of underestimation than did their male colleagues; however, this was not statistically significant. Conclusions Although female resident surgeons are generally confident in their abilities, this may be in contrast to the self-perception of many female medical students. Consideration of gender differences in self-perception may be important when providing feedback to female students and residents.

Gender Differences in Self-Perceptions and Academic Outcomes: A Study of African American High School Students

There is increasing divergence in the academic outcomes of African American males and females. By most accounts, males are falling behind their female peers educationally as African American females are graduating from high schools at higher rates and are going on to college and graduate school in greater numbers. Some have suggested that school completion and performance is associated with how students feel about themselves. The purpose of this study was to explore gender differences in the relationship between self-perceptions and 2 academic outcomes among a sample of 243 African American high school sophomores. The results suggest that, overall, females are more favorably oriented toward high school completion. Both male and female students with more positive self-perceptions have stronger intentions to complete the current year of high school. Higher grade point averages were more strongly associated with greater self-efficacy for females than for males. Given these findings, increased attention to educational programming, societal messages, and future research is warranted.

Social group membership and perceptions of the self in Northern Irish children

Social disadvantage and minority group membership are believed to have an adverse effect on the development of the self-concept. However, the exact effects of such factors on children’s self-competence and self-esteem are still subject to debate, with some authors arguing that it is not until later in life that the adverse psychological effects of social disadvantage become apparent. This study therefore examined the relationship between gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and age on self-competence and self-esteem in childhood. Eight- to eleven-year-old children ( N = 689) completed the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985) and the results were analysed using MANOVA. Substantial gender differences in self-perceptions across several domains, including global self-esteem, were evident. The analysis also indicated that children of lower SES and from the Roman Catholic (minority) community in Northern Ireland had significantly less positive self-perceptions than middle SES and Protestant (majority group) children in a range of domains. These differences, however, were generally only evidenced at ages 10 and 11. Discussion of these results highlights the influence of group memberships on children’s social development, particularly at the preadolescent stage, and points to the need to consider the combined effects of psychosocial identities and socioeconomic background on the development of self-perceptions.

Gender Differences in Self-Perception and Negative Recall Biases

This study investigated gender differences inthe accuracy of self-perceptions and whetherself-perception biases are related to negative recallbiases. Participants were 275 female and 213 malecollege students. Approximately 10% of the participantswere minorities (mostly African American and Asian). Ona masculine task, gender differences in self-perceptionswere found for three measures of accuracy: The accuracy of self-evaluations, calibration,and response bias. Females underestimated theirperformance, were less well calibrated, and showed amore conservative response bias than did males. Ashypothesized, no gender differences in the accuracy ofself-evaluations were found for feminine and neutraltasks. Participants' expectancies mediated the genderdifferences in post task self-evaluations ofperformance. In addition, evidence for a negative recallbias was found. Females were more likely than males torecall their mistakes even with performance and accuracyof self-evaluations controlled. The implications of females' greater self-perception biases onmasculine tasks are discussed and suggestions for futureresearch are made.

Gender differences in the accuracy of self-evaluations of performance.

Research has shown that gender differences in self-perceptions exist. However, interpretational ambiguities make it impossible to determine whether these gender differences are due to the operation of biases. The present research investigated whether gender differences in biased selfperceptions exist by assessing the accuracy of posttask self-evaluations of performance. In accordance with self-consistency theory, it was hypothesized that Ss' expectancies affect their posttask self-evaluations. For example, men who generally have high expectancies on masculine-gendertyped tasks were hypothesized to evidence overly positive self-evaluations. Women, who generally hold low expectancies on masculine tasks, were hypothesized to hold overly negative self-evaluations. The results confirmed that self-consistency tendencies can partially explain self-perception biases. The implications of these findings for women's achievement behavior and self-confidence are discussed.