ERIC Number: EJ1219141
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jul
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0165-0254
EISSN: N/A
Gender-Identity Typologies Are Related to Gender-Typing, Friendships, and Social-Emotional Adjustment in Dutch Emerging Adults
Endendijk, Joyce J.; Andrews, Naomi C. Z.; England, Dawn E.; Martin, Carol L.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, v43 n4 p322-333 Jul 2019
The current study examined emerging adults' gender identity and its link with several gender-related and social outcomes, by using a novel dual-identity approach that was originally developed in children. Dutch emerging adults between 18 and 25 years old (N = 318, M[subscript age] = 21.73, SD = 2.02; 51% female) indicated their similarity to the own-gender group and the other-gender group to assess gender identity. They completed questionnaires assessing gender-typed behavior (internalized sexualization, toughness, emotional stoicism) and attitudes (i.e., sexism); friendship efficacy and ability; and social-emotional adjustment. Cluster analysis on the gender-identity items revealed four gender-identity types: (a) feeling similar to one's own gender, but not to the other gender (Own-GS); (b) feeling similar to both one's own and the other gender (Both-GS); (c) feeling dissimilar to one's own gender (Low-Own-GS); and (d) feeling similar to neither gender (Low-GS). Own-GS and Low-GS adults were most gender-typed in their behavior and showed sexist attitudes. Both-GS adults felt efficacious and were highly able to relate to both genders, whereas the other groups felt efficacious and were able to relate to only one gender (Own-GS, Low-Own-GS), or to neither gender (Low-GS). Low-Own-GS and Low-GS were least well-adjusted social-emotionally. Findings suggest that identifying with one's own gender is helpful for certain aspects of social-emotional adjustment but that also identifying with the other gender provides the advantage of flexible social and interpersonal skills and egalitarian gender attitudes.
Descriptors: Sexual Identity, Young Adults, Sex Stereotypes, Friendship, Social Adjustment, Emotional Adjustment, Gender Differences, Self Concept, Gender Bias, Interpersonal Competence, Foreign Countries, Vocational Education, Student Attitudes, Self Efficacy, Correlation, Self Esteem, Behavior Patterns, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Student Characteristics, Measures (Individuals), Postsecondary Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Netherlands
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A