Adolescent gender differences in mattering and wellness

Mattering to others has been associated with psychosocial well-being and overall wellness. The relationship of perceived interpersonal and general mattering to overall wellness was studied with a sample of 462 high school students (229 males and 233 females). The two measures of perceived mattering (the Mattering to Others Questionnaire and the General Mattering Scale) were significantly but modestly interrelated (r=.29). Both scales were significantly correlated with overall scores on the Wellness Evaluation of Life Style-Teenage form. Females perceived they matter to their families, and in general, more than do males, and mattering significantly predicted wellness for females.