Faculty Collaboration Database

Masculinity, femininity, and psychosocial adjustment in medical students: a 2-year follow-up. J Pers Assess 1987;51(1):3-14

Date

01/01/1987

Pubmed ID

3572710

DOI

10.1207/s15327752jpa5101_1

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0023107232 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   28 Citations

Abstract

As part of a longitudinal study of medical students, relations between masculinity and femininity and psychosocial well-being were investigated over a 21-month interval. Of a class of medical students, 82% (N = 99) completed measures of masculinity and femininity during orientation and, 21 months later, completed a broad array of measures of psychological well-being, interpersonal functioning, humanistic attitudes toward patient care, and alcohol consumption. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses with interaction terms revealed main effects of masculinity on self-esteem, extraversion, and confidence, and main effects of femininity on hedonic capacity, interpersonal satisfaction, sharing of personal problems, and alcohol consumption. Little evidence for additive or balance androgyny formulations was found. Findings for masculinity were consistent with earlier findings from this study and others, but they were weaker in magnitude. Findings for femininity were surprisingly robust and enrich the construct validity of this measure. Measures of impaired mood and of alcohol and drug impairment were also studied in relation to masculinity and femininity. Both variables contribute to the prediction of depressed mood; femininity also contributes to the prediction of drug involvement. Neither scale has sufficient sensitivity or specificity to be used by itself as a test of impairment.

Author List

Zeldow PB, Daugherty SR, Clark DC

Author

David C. Clark PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the Research Office department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Alcohol Drinking
Depression
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Gender Identity
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Personal Satisfaction
Social Adjustment
Students, Medical
Substance-Related Disorders