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Scientific article
English

Gender Traits and Cognitive Appraisal in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Locus of Control

Contributors

Sarrasin, Oriane; Mayor, Eric; Faniko, Klea

Published in

Sex roles, vol. 70, p. 122-133

Publication date

2014

Abstract

The present study examined the relationships between masculine and feminine traits, measured using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), and the way young adults appraise events (i.e., as threats or as challenges). We hypothesized that the locus of control (LOC)—i.e., individuals' perceived control over the events that affect them—mediated these relationships. We tested these assumptions on two student samples from the French-speaking part of Switzerland (N =123 and N =504). Regression analyses demonstrated that, as expected, agentic masculine traits were positively related to challenge appraisals, and negatively to threat appraisals. LOC mediated these relationships, but most strongly among female participants. A different pattern was found for femininity. Feminine traits were positively related to increased challenge appraisals, but only in female participants of Sample 2. They were also related, in some cases, to increased threat appraisals. Furthermore, in line with previous research, LOC did not mediate the relationship between feminine traits and cognitive appraisal. Overall, the present results confirm that masculine and feminine stereotypical traits differ in their consequences for the way young adults appraise events in their everyday life.

Keywords

  • Gender traits
  • BSRI
  • Cognitive appraisal of stress
  • Locus of control

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

SARRASIN, Oriane, MAYOR, Eric, FANIKO, Klea. Gender Traits and Cognitive Appraisal in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Locus of Control. In: Sex roles, 2014, vol. 70, p. 122–133. doi: 10.1007/s11199-013-0336-6

Main files (1)

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

0360-0025
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Technical informations

Creation

23/02/2015 12:19:00

First validation

23/02/2015 12:19:00

Update

14/03/2023 22:56:26

Status update

14/03/2023 22:56:26

Last indexation

30/10/2024 23:09:34
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