Recent metaanalyses indicate that women consistently obtain higher scores t
han men do on self-report dependency measures, but not on projective depend
ency tests (R. F Bornstein, 1995, 1996). To explore this issue in a hereto
re unexamined population, we analyzed archival data from 85 homeless partic
ipants (40 women and 45 ,men) enrolled in a vocational rehabilitation progr
am, using the MMPI Dependency (Dy) Scale (L. Navran, 1954) and the Rorschac
h Oral Dependency (ROD) Scale (J. M. Masling, L Rabie, & S. H. Blondheim, 1
967). Consistent with earlier results, there were no gender differences in
projective dependency scores, but contrary to earlier results, there were a
lso no gender differences in self-reports of dependency. These findings sug
gest that stressful conditions like homelessness may mitigate the impact of
gender on self-reported dependency.