GENDER AND INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN ADULT CRYING

This study reports on gender and individual differences in adult cryin g. A total of 105 subjects filled out a questionnaire on adult crying (Vingerhoets, 1995) and two personality inventories, the NEO Personali ty Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R) (Costa & McCrae, 1992) and the Five-fa ctor Personality Inventory (FFPI) (Hendriks et al., 1995). The results showed that gender and personality substantially and independently co ntribute to the variance in weeping frequency. Women cry more often an d perceive weeping more as a coping style. Neuroticism proved to be co nsiderably correlated with weeping frequency and weeping as a coping s tyle, even after partialling out the effects of gender and age. Extrav ersion was correlated with relief and positive feelings after crying. These results are discussed in the context of an ongoing international study on adult crying. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.