Gender differences in anxiety among undergraduates from twenty two countries

Abstract

Objective

The aim of the current investigation was to explore gender related differences in anxiety among undergraduates from 22 countries.

Method

Standard Arabic Version of the Kuwait University Anxiety scale (comprised of 20 brief statements, answered on a 4-point intensity scale, anchored by 1: Rarely and 4: Always) was administered to Arabic undergraduates, recruited from the following countries: Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudis Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, U.A. Emirate, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco. (n = 608, 271, 879, 842, 948, 780, 782, 435, 154, 393, 342, 833, 1185, 275, 291, 295, 375, & 706. While the English Version was administered to American (n = 273) and Pakistan (n = 462) samples, the Germen version was administered to the Germen subjects (n = 157), Moreover the Spanish version was administered to the Spanish sample (n = 312).

Results

It was found that females significantly had higher mean anxiety scores than did their male counterparts in 15 countries: Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Pakistan, American, & Spain.

Conclusion

Female preponderance of anxiety has been a consistent finding. In the present researcher opinion, the anxiety score of any given person is the end product of both biological and psychosocial factors and their interaction. Furthermore, the response styles, especially social desirability and the tendency to hyperbole had an impact on anxiety score.