The Effect of Gender and Working Status on Personality Traits among Adults

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of gender and working status on personality traits, specifically extraversion and neuroticism, among adults in the Ranchi district. The primary objectives are to examine the impact of gender (male and female) and working status (working and non-working) on these personality traits. It was hypothesized that neither gender nor working status would significantly affect extraversion and neuroticism. A purposive sample of 40 adults, evenly distributed across four subgroups (working males, non-working males, working females, and non-working females), was utilized. Data were collected using the Personal Data Questionnaire (PDQ) and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), a reliable tool measuring Extraversion-Introversion and Neuroticism-Stability. The results revealed that females scored significantly higher in extraversion than males (mean = 17.2 for females and 14.6 for males, significant at the 0.05 level). However, no significant difference was found in neuroticism scores between genders (mean = 13.35 for females and 14.80 for males). In terms of working status, working adults exhibited significantly higher neuroticism scores compared to non-working adults (mean = 19.25 for working and 12.55 for non-working, significant at the 0.01 level), whereas non-working adults scored significantly higher in extraversion (mean = 16.30 for non-working and 11.85 for working, significant at the 0.01 level). These findings contribute to the existing body of literature by providing nuanced insights into the complex interplay between gender, working status, and personality traits. The results underscore the importance of considering these variables in personality psychology research and practical applications.