Husbands’ Gender Role Conflict And Its Influence On The Conjugal Relation

How the socially defined construct of masculinity impacts men, women, and society was a new trend in "The New Psychology of Men". Male gender role conflict occurs when rigid, sexist, or restrictive gender roles result in restriction, devaluation, or violation of others or self, Male gender role conflict is described as a "psychological state in which socialized gender roles have negative consequences on the person or others" Strict adherence to traditional male gender roles is thought to produce both intrapersonal and interpersonal struggles. Intrapersonal conflict refers to men’s internal reactions to the incongruity between their real self-image and the ideal masculine image they struggle to achieve. Interpersonal conflict refers to conflicts of a social nature that are associated with rigid gender roles, inflexibility, dominance, and emotional distance. Although there is abundant literature on gender role conflict and negative consequences for men, few empirical studies have investigated the association between men’s gender role conflict and problems for people around them. The consequences could be especially detrimental to men’s relationships with women. This study investigated in the Chinese cultural background, level of adult male gender role conflict, especially the married male gender role conflict affect the relationships Between husband and wife.In Research One we collected a sample of584Chinese18-82year-old men were given a battery of self-report measures of Male Gender Role Conflict Scale-Short Form (MGRCS-SF), revised gender role conflict scale in the context of Chinese culture. In Research Two we collected a sample of124married men and144married women were given a battery of self-report measures of Male Gender Role Conflict Scale-Short Form (MGRCS-SF), psychological well-being scale and psychological distress questionnaire. To learn whether or not male gender role conflict will effect their psychological well-being and psychological distress. To learn whether or not husbands’gender role conflict will effect wives’ psychological well-being and psychological distress. In Research Two we collected a sample of266couples were given a battery of self-report measures of Male Gender Role Conflict Scale-Short Form (MGRCS-SF), Demand/Withdraw mode of communication and marital satisfaction scale. Using the actor/partner interdependence model, to learn whether or not exist of actor/partner effect between husbands’ gender role conflict and marital satisfaction. Finally, to learn whether or not Demand/Withdraw moderated the relationship between husbands’gender role conflict husbands’gender role conflict and wives’ marital satisfaction.Through three researches, we can draw conclusions as follows:(1) Male Gender Role Conflict Scale-Short Form was four factor model, four patterns labeled F1Conflict Between Work and Family; F2Restrictive Emotionality; F3Restrictive Affectionate Behavior Between Men; F4Success, Power, and Competition. Statistical analysis found it has good validity and reliability.(2) The score of Husbands’ gender role conflict, Restrictive Emotionality and Conflict between Work and Family were negatively correlated with his psychological well-being. Except the Restrictive Affectionate Behavior between Men subscale. The total score of Husbands’ gender role conflict and other factors were positively correlated with his distress. Conflict between Work and Family subscale and the Restrictive Emotionality subscale were significant predictors of husbands’ distress.(3) Husbands’ gender role conflict was negatively correlated with wives’ psychological well-being. Husbands’ gender role conflict was positively correlated with wives’distress.(4) Husbands’ gender role conflict was negatively correlated with his marital satisfaction. Husbands’ gender role conflict was negatively correlated with wives’ marital satisfaction. There were not actor/partner effect between husbands’ gender role conflict and marital relationship satisfaction.(5) Demand/Withdraw moderated the relationship between husbands’ gender role conflict and wives’ marital satisfaction.