Gender role conflict and coping: A preliminary investigation of college males

• Main Author: Bergen, David John
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1996
• Subjects: Academic guidance counseling; Behavioral psychology; Behaviorial sciences; Personality; Personality psychology; School counseling
• ISBN: 9780591234770; 0591234777

This study investigated differences in coping strategies between college males with high and low gender role conflict, as measured by the Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS). Emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies of men, as assessed by the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOCQ), also were examined across gender role conflict-specific and gender role conflict-neutral stressful encounters. Traditional age college males living on-campus at two small private colleges located in southeastern United States completed the GRCS, the WOCQ, and a demographic questionnaire. Responses were received from 247 students. Comparisons were completed to examine the coping profiles between men with high and low gender role conflict. Selection of coping strategies was investigated to compare high and low gender role conflict men in response to scenarios characterized by high and low gender role conflict. Coping profiles were not found to differ significantly in either analysis. Examination between the factors of the GRCS and subscales of the WOCQ revealed no direct significant relationships. Results of the study suggest that gender role conflict does not influence the selection of coping strategies in college males. This remains true for men with various levels of gender role conflict as well as in situations that are characterized by different levels of gender role conflict.