Gender Differences in Psychological Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood

M. Pilar Matud (), Juan Manuel Bethencourt, Ignacio Ibáñez, Demelza Fortes and Amelia Díaz
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M. Pilar Matud: Universidad de La Laguna
Juan Manuel Bethencourt: Universidad de La Laguna
Ignacio Ibáñez: Universidad de La Laguna
Demelza Fortes: Universidad de La Laguna
Amelia Díaz: Universidad de Valencia

Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2022, vol. 17, issue 2, No 27, 1017 pages

Abstract: Abstract Gender is recognized as an important social determinant of health, but past research on gender differences in psychological well-being have not produced conclusive results. This study investigated gender differences in eudaimonic well-being and life satisfaction in emerging adulthood. A cross-sectional study with a sample of 1990 emerging adults (50% males) from the Spanish general population was conducted. Participants were assessed through five questionnaires. Results showed that women scored higher than men in purpose in life and personal growth. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the most important predictors of emerging adult men’s and women’s eudaimonic well-being and life satisfaction were higher self-confidence and lower negative self-evaluation. Other significant variables in the eudaimonic well-being of both women and men were higher score in the masculine/instrumental trait, higher emotional social support, higher educational level, and higher score in the feminine/expressive trait. Furthermore, higher instrumental social support was associated with eudaimonic well-being in females. Other predictors of women’s and men’s life satisfaction were higher score in the feminine/expressive trait, less age, higher educational level and higher instrumental social support. In addition, higher emotional social support was associated with life satisfaction in males. The results suggest that gender is important in the psychological well-being of people in emerging adulthood, although self-esteem and instrumental social support are, in both emerging adult women and men, the most important predictors of psychological well-being.

Keywords: Gender; Eudaimonic well-being; Life satisfaction; Emerging adulthood; Masculine/instrumental trait; Feminine/expressive trait (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1007/s11482-021-09943-5

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