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Learning Objective #1: describe three differences between men and women in the sample of COPD patients discussed.

Learning Objective #2: identify two areas for future research on gender differences in COPD patients.

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Purpose: To examine gender differences in predictors of functional performance in community-dwelling people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: These data come from a study of 119 COPD patients. The sample was divided by gender (64 males, 55 females). Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed. Examination of the correlation matrices and the multiple regression collinearity statistics indicated that collinearity was not problematic for either sub-sample. Results: Nine variables (severity of pulmonary disease, comorbidity, anxiety, depression, happiness, life satisfaction, mastery, social support, and age) were proposed as predictors of functional performance. There were no differences between sub-samples on the variables of age or severity of pulmonary disease. For males, only two variables (severity of pulmonary disease [beta = .258, t = 2.341, p = .023] and depression [beta = -.642, t = -3.955, p =.000]) were significant, R square = .461, adjusted R square = .371, F (9, 54) = 5.128, p = .000. For females, three variables (severity of pulmonary disease [beta = .310, t = 3.341, p = .002], depression [beta = -.853, t = -5.810, p = .000], and age [ -.561, t = -6.039, p = .000]) proved to be significant, R square = .673, adjusted R square = .608, F (9, 45) = 10.307, p = .000. Discussion: These results must be considered preliminary because of the small sample sizes and the number of proposed predictors. The different combinations of significant predictors and, particularly, the marked difference in adjusted R square values between genders require further investigation in larger samples. Replication of these findings in larger samples would suggest that gender-specific interventions to improve functional performance may be indicated.