The interaction between neuroticism and gender influences the perceived availability of social support

This study examined the degree to which neuroticism and gender interact to influence the perceived availability of social support. Three-hundred and sixty-six participants completed measures assessing perceived social support and personality. Correlation and hierarchical regression analyses showed that these two dimensions interacted to predict perceived support. That is, at low levels of neuroticism, females, relative to males, reported greater overall support, and greater appraisal support. However, as neuroticism levels increased, measures of perceived social support converged for females and males, such that at the highest levels of neuroticism, there were no gender differences in general perceived social support or appraisal support. These findings may help to address some of the inconsistencies that have been reported in the literature concerning the relationship between neuroticism and perceived availability of social support.