Perceived Sex Differences in Inpatients’ Psychopathology: Some Preliminary Findings

Abstract

21 staff members from an inpatient psychiatric hospital were interviewed about their perceptions of symptomatological differences between male and female inpatients. Analysis of the interview data indicated significant staff agreement on 4 of 9 rated contrast categories and trends toward significance in two others. Staff described females as greater management problems, showing more emotion, being more troublesome and uncooperative, having poorer contact with reality, and being less willing to participate in social interactions than their male counterparts. These consistently perceived differences, it is suggested, likely lead to different ward atmospheres and different staff expectations for male and female inpatients.