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ANDROGYNOUS PARENTS IN THE MIDDLE YEARS OF THE FAMILY
Abstract
Researchers in psychological androgyny have presented the theory that androgynous individuals are the new model for mental health and that traditional sex-typed standards are inadequate. This study sought to broaden androgyny research beyond individual variables of self-esteem and adaptability and analyze the androgynous parent's social functioning in the family, life satisfaction, and stress related variables. Middle years parents were classified using the revised Bem Sex Role Inventory and analyzed for descriptive characteristics, life satisfaction (Campbell, Converse & Rodgers), family cohesion and adaptability (FACES II), psychosomatic symptoms (Norem and Brown), and family life events (FILE). Subjects, 254 matched spouses in a midwestern state, varied widely in descriptive characteristics except race (99% Caucasion). Androgynous subjects endorsed the highest possible choice significantly more than all other subjects (< .0001) for global life satisfaction and for all ten subscores; satisfaction with family life (< .0002), relationships with spouse (< .02), with children (< .02); children's interrelationships (< .0001), and marital happiness (< .0001). Feminine sex-typed subjects generally endorsed high satisfaction slightly more than expected while masculine subjects had slightly less, but neither was significant. Undifferentiated had strongly significant dissatisfaction. Androgynous subjects perceived their families as significantly more cohesive (< .0039) and adaptable (< .0009), (FACES); feminine subjects endorsed cohesive and adaptable slightly more than expected, and masculine sex-typed slightly less than expected but neither significantly. Undifferentiated were cohesive even less often than masculine subjects, and were highly significant in lack of adaptability. Psychosomatic symptoms were generally unrelated to androgyny. The exception was "difficulty relaxing." Androgynous subjects were symptom free significantly more than all others (< .005). Headaches were related to gender but not sex-type; women have more headaches than men regardless of sex-typing. Androgynous subjects responded most appropriately to loss of close relationships (FILE) significantly more than any other group (< .04). There was no significant difference among sex-types on any descriptive characteristics. In fact there was very strong non significance for all. This research lends support to the position that women and feminine scale behaviors are devalued in American society.
Subject Area
Social psychology
Recommended Citation
POLZIEN, JOELLEN WILLIAMS, "ANDROGYNOUS PARENTS IN THE MIDDLE YEARS OF THE FAMILY" (1983). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8404843.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8404843