Gender Differences in Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, Hyperactivity and Conduct Problems among Children Ages Eight to Fourteen

Presenter Information

Jenna M. Schley, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 255

Start Date

27-4-2009 8:00 AM

End Date

27-4-2009 10:00 AM

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Sarah Sifers

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether gender differences were found in anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and conduct problem symptoms among children ages eight to fourteen. Data was collected from 105 participants using a demographic questionnaire and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, 2"'^ Edition (BASC-2; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004). Parent-report was used to determine the externalizing symptoms (hyperactivity and conduct problems) of the children studied while self-report was used in detecting internalizing symptoms (anxiety and depression). Past research has shown that girls are more likely to express symptoms of internalizing disorders and less likely to express symptoms of externalizing disorders than boys. The results of this current study found females to possess more anxiety symptoms, F(l, 97)=3.984, p=.049 and depressive symptoms, F(l, 97)=4.295, p=.041 than males. No significant gender differences were found regarding the symptoms of ADHD, F(l, 102)=.005, p=.005 and conduct problems, F(l, 102)=.812, p=.370. Future implications for these results are discussed.