Self – Silencing among University Female Students

Abstract

The current research aims to identify: 1- The level of self-silencing among female university students. 2- The statistical significance of differences in self-silencing based on the marital status variable (single, married). To achieve the objectives of the current study, the researcher apply the Self-Silencing Scale developed by Jack (1991) and adapted to the Iraqi context by Al-Masoudi (2025). In fact, the scale consists of 23 items, each with five response options (Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, and Never), based on a five-point Likert scale. Accordingly, the researcher directed the scale to a psychometric analysis sample of 400 female students to establish its psychometric properties, including construct validity and reliability. Subsequently, the scale was administered to the main study sample, which consisted of 75 orphaned female students. After data collection, the responses were analyzed statistically using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Finally, the study concluded the following: 1- Orphaned female university students exhibited a high level of self-silencing. 2- There were statistically significant differences in self-silencing based on marital status, favoring married orphaned female students.