Implicit and self-attributed dependency needs in homeless men and women

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.