The level of self concept as a function of sex-role identity and gender in college students

Includes bibliographical references (pages 63-69)The purpose of this presentation is to investigate the role\ud of self concept level as a function of gender and sex type. This\ud study is based on the premise proposed by Bern (1975) that mental\ud health doesn't stem from living up to one's traditional sex role,\ud but rather, that the most flexible and complete individuals combine\ud the qualities of both masculinity and femininity (androgyny). The Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Tennessee Self\ud Concept Scale (TSCS) were administered to 132 freshman college\ud students, of which 71 were females and 61 were females. Gender\ud and Sex type (i.e. Undifferentiated, Ferninine, lviasculine, Androgynous)\ud were the Independent Variables. Self Concept components\ud (i.e. Behavior, Identity, Self-Satisfaction, Personality Integration)\ud and Total Positive Score (general level of self-esteem) were the\ud Independent Variables. A 4 x 2 multivariate analysis of variance\ud was performed.\ud Self Concept was not affected by Gender; however, there\ud was a significant interaction of Sex-type (Androgyny) by Gender on\ud Self Concept (Identity).\ud Androgynous individuals scored significantly higher than\ud feminine and masculine individuals on 'The Behavioral Self" an \ud important component of self-concept. Androgynous individuals also\ud scored higher on Total Positive Score than masculine and feminine\ud individuals, though, this difference was not statistically significant,\ud androgynous females scored higher than androgynous males,\ud Masculine males scored higher than feminine females\ud on Total Positive Score, however, this was not statistically significant\ud either