Research Paper, research in psychopathology

Gender differences in the correlation
between personality traits and anxiety,
among Dutch students
Research in Psychopathology




Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
Bachelor Health Sciences
Author: Anna Tóth
Student number: i6188813
Specialization: GGZ
Word count: 3956

,Contents
1. Abstract.............................................................................................................................................2
2. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................3
3. Method..............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Study population and procedure.................................................................................................7
3.2 Measurements.............................................................................................................................8
3.2.1. EPQ-R...................................................................................................................................8
3.2.2. HADS....................................................................................................................................9
3.3 Statistical analysis......................................................................................................................10
4. Results.............................................................................................................................................10
4.1 Descriptive analyses...................................................................................................................10
4.1.1. Internal consistency...........................................................................................................11
4.1.2. Normality checks................................................................................................................11
4.2 Main analyses............................................................................................................................12
4.2.1. Personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion and neuroticism) and anxiety....................12
4.2.2. Gender differences in personality traits and anxiety.........................................................14
5. Discussion........................................................................................................................................14
References...........................................................................................................................................17




1. Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between symptoms of

anxiety and personality dimensions such as psychoticism, neuroticism and extraversion

, among 110 Mental Health students at the University of Maastricht in students, and to study

the differences between male and female students. The EPQ (Eysenck Personality

Questionnaire) questionnaire was used to test the personality traits (psychoticism,

extraversion, neuroticism, social desirability) of the students. The HADS (Hospital Anxiety

and Depression Scale) questionnaire was used to test students' anxiety. It was found that there

was no significant correlation found between the personality traits ‘Neuroticism’ and

‘Extraversion’ and anxiety. There was a significant negative correlation between the

personality trait ‘Psychoticism’ and anxiety. Besides this the third variable, gender, does not

affect the correlation and there is no significant evidence that there is a gender difference

among the students. Due to statistically weak outcomes in this study, it is necessary to

interpret the findings with causation.




2. Introduction
The mental health of university students is an area of increasing concern worldwide (Stanley,

Manthorpe, 2001). Higher education is perceived as being stressful, which can lead to a