Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Relatively little research has focused on Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) and even less research has examined sex differences, despite evidence of sex differences in prevalence of DPD and evidence that DPD is perceived as a feminine PD. Men who demonstrate DPD symptoms might be perceived as violating the male sex role and therefore risk being seen as more dysfunctional or labeled homosexual. However, there is a dearth of research regarding attitudes towards men with DPD, and no known research investigating attitudes towards gay and lesbian individuals with DPD. Undergraduates ( n = 318) read one of four versions of a DPD vignette that was presented as either a heterosexual or homosexual man or woman and rated the perceived level of dysfunction and likability of the individual in the vignette. The influence of participant sex, sex role attitudes, homonegativity, and social desirability on the ratings were also examined. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) indicated main effects of sex and sexual orientation of the individual in the vignette and participant sex on the ratings. There were no interaction effects. The male version of the vignette was rated more negatively than the female version, and the homosexual version of the vignette was rated more negatively than the heterosexual version. However, univariate analyses revealed that most of the variance was associated with the rating of distress, which might reflect empathy for the stigma that homosexuals and individuals with DPD might experience. Contrary to predictions, female participants were more negative in their ratings than male participants. Male participants had significantly higher homonegativity and more traditional gender role attitudes than female participants, as predicted. However, contrary to hypotheses, correlations revealed that higher homonegativity was associated with less negative ratings of the gay man or lesbian woman in the DPD vignette, and more traditional sex role attitudes were associated with less negative ratings for two of the ADS items, regardless of sex of the individual in the vignette. Explanations for the findings, limitations and strengths of the study, and implications for future research and clinical application are discussed.

Download

Share

COinS