Sex role identity and positive psychological constructs amongst South African employees
Date
2015-09-01
Authors
Jacobs, Sara
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between both positive and
negative sex role identities and the positive psychological constructs of PsyCap, which
aggregates self-efficacy, hope, resilience and optimism, and work engagement. The study
utilised a cross-sectional design and a convenience sample of 478 individuals currently
working in South Africa. Three instruments were combined into a composite questionnaire
and used to collect data. These instruments were the revised EPAQ (EPAQ-R), the PCQ-24
and the UWES. The study was constructed within a social constructionist framework of sex
role identity and used the Conservation of Resources Theory for PsyCap and work
engagement.
The results of this study found significant differences between sex role identities for
levels of PsyCap and work engagement. In particular, positive androgyny and positive
masculinity scored the highest levels of PsyCap and work engagement, while negative
androgyny and negative femininity consistently scored the lowest levels. Therefore, the
results of this study provided support for the Differentiated Model of sex role identity, with
differing outcomes for positive and negative identities.
Furthermore, positive femininity scored significantly lower levels of the positive
outcomes of PsyCap, hope and resilience, than the other positive identities. This provided
support for the Masculinity Model of sex role identity. Additionally, an important finding
was the unexpectedly high levels of positive outcomes for negative masculinity. In fact,
negative masculinity performed similarly to all the positive identities in terms of both
PsyCap and work engagement. This provided further support for the Masculinity Model.
This study contributed to the existing body of literature by investigating the impact of
both positive and negative sex role identities, unlike most previous research, which has
focused solely on positive sex role identities and their associated outcomes. Moreover, there
is a paucity of applicable research on sex role identities within the South African context. As
such, this study utilised a sample of individuals working in South Africa and its findings
have a direct bearing on South African organisations.
Description
Masters of Arts
Organisational Psychology
University of Witwatersrand
January 2015