Abstract
We examined whether protective forms of gender identity (typicality, contentedness) ameliorate the negative influences of
self-perceived cross gender typing (gender differentiated friendship styles) on early adolescents’ well-being. Early adolescents
(N = 244, 123 girls, M age 12.77 years) in Surrey, England responded to self-reports of friendship styles (preoccupied, avoidant), gender identity
(typicality, contentedness), and well-being (self-esteem, depression). Girls reported higher scores than boys on the preoccupied
friendship style, and lower scores than boys on the avoidant friendship style. Children who reported a cross gender style
(preoccupied for boys and avoidant for girls) also reported poor well-being, indicating that self-perceived cross gender typing
is distressing. However, these influences were buffered for youths who reported high levels of gender typicality and gender
contentedness. Results suggest that gender identity plays a self-regulatory role in discounting self-perceived gender-atypical
attributes that interfere with early adolescents’ sense of well-being.
self-perceived cross gender typing (gender differentiated friendship styles) on early adolescents’ well-being. Early adolescents
(N = 244, 123 girls, M age 12.77 years) in Surrey, England responded to self-reports of friendship styles (preoccupied, avoidant), gender identity
(typicality, contentedness), and well-being (self-esteem, depression). Girls reported higher scores than boys on the preoccupied
friendship style, and lower scores than boys on the avoidant friendship style. Children who reported a cross gender style
(preoccupied for boys and avoidant for girls) also reported poor well-being, indicating that self-perceived cross gender typing
is distressing. However, these influences were buffered for youths who reported high levels of gender typicality and gender
contentedness. Results suggest that gender identity plays a self-regulatory role in discounting self-perceived gender-atypical
attributes that interfere with early adolescents’ sense of well-being.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research in Progress
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s12646-012-0159-5
- Authors
- Meenakshi Menon, Department of Psychology, University of Maine at Farmington, 234 Main Street, Farmington, ME 04938, USA
- Kirsten Schellhorn, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK
- Catherine A. Lowe, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK
- Journal Psychological Studies
- Online ISSN 0974-9861
- Print ISSN 0033-2968