Search

The goals of the study were to analyze differences as a function of gender, age, and educational level in sexism and alexithymia in a nonclinical and in a clinical sample, and to explore the relation between these constructs. A descriptive and correlational cross-sectional methodology was used. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (Glick & Fiske, 1996) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Parker et al. 1993) were administered. The sample comprised 989 participants from the Basque Country, aged between 18 and 65 years. The results revealed: 1) Significantly higher scores in the males in sexism (hostile, benevolent, and ambivalent) and in alexithymia (difficulties to express emotions and external-oriented thinking) in both samples; in the total alexithymia score, the males had significantly higher scores only in the nonclinical sample; 2) As of 55 years of age, a significant increase in benevolent and ambivalent sexism, and in difficulties to identify emotions, external-oriented thinking, and in the total alexithymia score were observed (only in the nonclinical sample); however, no changes with age were observed in hostile sexism and in difficulties to express emotions; 3) A decrease in sexism and alexithymia as the educational level increased; and 4) Significant positive correlations between sexism and alexithymia.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las diferencias entre los adolescentes de dos ciudades colombianas (Barranquilla y Bogotá) con niveles de desarrollo distintos, en sexismo, rasgos de personalidad, competencias sociales, síntomas psicopatológicos y actividades de tiempo libre. La muestra fue de 846 adolescentes colombianos de catorce a dieciséis años, 51,7% de Barranquilla y 48,3% de Bogotá (59,3% varones; 40,7% mujeres). Se administraron siete instrumentos de evaluación con garantías de fiabilidad y validez, utilizando un diseño de investigación descriptivo y comparativo de corte transversal. Los resultados de los análisis (MANOVA, T-test) confirmaron que: 1) Los adolescentes de ambas ciudades tenían similares niveles de sexismo hostil y neosexismo, sin embargo, en sexismo benevolente, ambivalente y en ideología de rol sexual los de Barranquilla tuvieron puntuaciones significativamente superiores; 2) Los adolescentes de Barranquilla manifestaron puntuaciones significativamente superiores en autoconcepto, extraversión, amabilidad, responsabilidad, conductas de sensibilidad social, ayuda-colaboración, seguridad-firmeza en la interacción y liderazgo prosocial; mientras que los de Bogotá tuvieron puntuaciones significativamente superiores en neuroticismo, conductas de agresividad, ansiedad-timidez, y en el índice general de síntomas psicopatológicos; y 3) Los adolescentes colombianos en su tiempo libre realizan mayoritariamente actividades sociales y deportivas, en menor medida artísticas, y escasamente intelectuales; aunque los bogotanos realizan más actividades deportivas que los barranquilleros, en el resto de las actividades no hubo diferencias. Los de Barranquilla, aunque más sexistas, tenían un perfil de personalidad y de conducta social más adaptativo, y menos síntomas psicopatológicos que los de Bogota. La discusión gira en torno a la influencia de la cultura implícita de las ciudades en los patrones de personalidad y psicopatológicos. The purpose of the study was to analyze the differences between the adolescents from two Colombian cities (Barranquilla and Bogota), with different levels of development, in sexism, personality traits, social competences, psychopathological symptoms, and leisure activities. The sample comprised 846 Colombian adolescents, aged 14 to 16 years, 51.7% from Barranquilla and 48.3% from Bogota (59.3% male; 40.7% female). Seven assessment instruments, with guarantees of reliability and validity, were administered, using a cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative research design. The results of the analyses (MANOVA, t-test) confirmed that: 1) The adolescents from both cities had similar levels of hostile sexism and neosexism, but in benevolent and ambivalent sexism and in sexual role ideology, the adolescents from Barranquilla scored significantly higher; 2) The adolescents from Barranquilla obtained significantly higher scores in self-concept, extraversion, agreeableness, responsibility, behaviors of social sensitivity, help-collaboration, and firmness in interaction and prosocial leadership; whereas the adolescents from Bogota scored significantly higher in neuroticism, aggressive behaviors, anxiety-shyness, and the global index of psychopathological symptoms; and 3) In their free time, Colombian adolescents usually perform social and sports activities and, to a lesser degree, artistic activities, and few intellectual activities; although the adolescents from Bogota carried out more sports activities than those from Barranquilla, there were no differences in the rest of the activities. Although they were more sexist, the adolescents from Barranquilla had a more adaptive personality and social behavior profile, and fewer psychopathological symptoms than those from Bogota. The implicit influence of culture in personality and psychopathological patterns is discussed.