Identity Status, Sex-Role Orientation, and Self-Esteem in Late Adolescent Females
Prager, K J.
Journal of Genetic Psychology 143(2): 159-167
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1325 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.1983.10533547Document Number: 332309
Undergraduate women (88) at a large Southwestern university were interviewed to determine their identity status (identity achievement, moratorium, forclosure, diffusion). They also completed the Personal Attributes Questionnaire to assess their sex-role orientation (androgynous, masculine or feminine sex-typed or undifferentiated) and the Texas Social Behavior Inventory to measure self-esteem. Masculine sex-typing was associated with identity achievement, while feminine sex-typing and undifferentiatedness were associated with moratorium and diffusion. Significant differences among the identity statuses on masculinity were found which were independent of self-esteem, although a high correlation between masculinity and self-esteem was found. No differences among the identity statuses were found on femininity. Evidently, high masculinity, but not femininity, was probably associated with successful resolution of the identity crisis in women (identity achievement). Possible explanations for the association of masculine personality traits with identity development were discussed.