Crying in Middle Childhood: A Report on Gender Differences

The aims of this study were (1) to confirm gender differences in crying in middle childhood and (2) to identify factors that
may explain why girls cry more than boys in a Dutch sample (North Holland and Utrecht). We examined 186 children’s (age: 9–13 years)
self-reports on crying, catharsis, seeking support for feelings, and internalizing feelings. Girls reported a greater crying
frequency and crying proneness, and more emotional and physical catharsis after crying. In addition, they more frequently
sought support for feelings and more often experienced sadness and somatic complaints than boys. Seeking help for negative
feelings and the experience of sadness and somatic complaints were positively associated with crying frequency and crying
proneness. Emotional catharsis was positively linked to crying proneness. Support was found for the potential mediating role
of sadness and somatic complaints with respect to the gender difference in crying frequency and for the potential mediating
role of emotional catharsis and somatic complaints for crying proneness. This study demonstrates that gender differences in
crying frequency already exist in middle childhood and the findings suggest a linkage between these gender differences in
crying and psychosocial factors.