The development of psychological androgyny and its relationship with self-esteem in adolescence
Date
2015-02-05
Authors
Hornibrook, Robin
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Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of sex-role
identity on self-esteem in samples of adolescents. The
subject population consisted of 208 white, English-speaking,
middle-class adolescents. Subjects were divided into three
age groups of 13 year olds, 15 year olds, and first year
undergraduates. Within these three groups, four variables
were investigated, namely, age, sex, sex-role identity, and
self-esteem. Self-esteem was measured by means of the
Tennessee Self Concept Scale, and sex-role identity by means
of the Bern Sex-Role Inventory. Two-way analyses of variance
were utilized to compare the mean scores obtained by each of
the four sex-role categories on self-esteem. Results were
then compared by sex. In addition, chi-square contingency
tests were utilized to test for the incidence of androgyny
in the three age groups and to compare the incidence of
androgyny in a South African sample with the incidence
reported in an American sample. Using a significance level of
.05 as the criterion for significance, significant results
were produced for most of the hypotheses. Psychological
androgyny was found to be positively associated with higher
levels of self-esteem at all three ages. The results -re
discussed in terms of gender schema theory and psychoanalytic
theory and suggestions made for clinical application.
Limitations of the present research are discussed and
suggestions made for further research.