Neuroticismo: Algumas variáveis diferenciais

JOSÉ H. BARROS DE OLIVEIRA (*)

 

RESUMO

O neuroticismo é um traço cognitivo-afectivo ou uma expressão negativa da personalidade. Depois de tentarmos definir este construto e de fazer alguma referência à sua avaliação, analisamos alguns estudos que o correlacionam com outras emoções negativas ou positivas da personalidade e com variáveis sociodemográficas. Na parte empírica são analisados três estudos, numa perspectiva diferencial, tentando saber se há diferenças significativas conforme a idade, o sexo, a cultura/nação e a religião. Dada a pouca base bibliográfica capaz de sustentar algumas hipóteses, o estudo torna-se exploratório, embora se confirmem alguns pressupostos iniciais: conforme o sexo, as mulheres tendem a ser mais neuróticas do que os homens; atendendo à idade, os adolescentes e os idosos são mais neuróticos que os adultos. Quanto à cultura/nação, os africanos (caboverdianos e angolanos) tendem a manifestar maior neuroticidade que os portugueses. No que concerne à religião, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as freiras e as raparigas universitárias.

Palavras-chave: Neuroticismo, idade, sexo, cultura, religião.

 

ABSTRACT

Neuroticism is a cognitive-afective trait or a negative expression of personality. After defining this construct, some studies correlating it with other negative or positive personality emotions and with sociodemographic variables are reviewed. There follows an empirical section in which three studies are comparatively analysed according to age, gender, culture/nationality, and religion. Given the paucity of definitive research capable of confirming any single hypothesis, the study remains exploratory, though some initial presuppositions are confirmed: according to gender, females are more neurotic than males; according to age, adolescents and older people are more neurotic than adults. In respect of culture/nationality, Cabo Verdians and Angolans show a grater tendency towards neuroticism than the Portuguese. Concerning religious persuasion, there were found to be no significant differences between nuns and female students in terms of susceptibility to neuroticism.

Key words: Neuroticism, age, gender, culture, religion.

 

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(*) Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto.