Gender, anxiety and self-image

German adolescents were administered three questionnaires to assess Trait Anxiety (STAI), psychological self, social- and sexual-self, self-adjustment and family relationships (Offer Self-image Questionnaire), as well as parental involvement, achievement orientation, family cohesiveness, obediency and parental conflict (Attitude towards Parents and Schooling Inventory). There were few differences between sexes in terms of any of the personality variables3with the exception of impulsivity—but several differences along the attitude scales (achievement orientation, obediency and parental conflict). Several significant differences were yielded between low and high trait anxiety Ss and the self-image scales, particularly those associated with negative affect e.g. negative body image, impulsivity, emotionality and mental ill-health. Moreover, high trait neurotic Ss displayed greater parental conflict and lowered family cohesiveness (both scales being themselves highly correlated with the dimension of negative affect) compared to their more stable (low anxiety) counterparts. These relationships were not moderated by gender. The implication of these studies are discussed.