Impact of sex role orientation on self esteem in early adolescence
Lamke, L.K.
Child Development 53(6): 1530-1535
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-3920 Document Number: 427854
The relationship between sex-role orientation and self-esteem in early adolescence was assessed. Junior high school students (119) completed the Rosenberg self-esteem measure and 2 measures of sex-role orientation, the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Personal Attributes Questionnaire. Masculine and androgynous individuals had higher levels of self-esteem than feminine and undifferentiated individuals. When the independent contributions of masculinity and femininity to self-esteem were assessed, only masculinity significantly predicted self-esteem. The effect of sex-role orientation on self-esteem was greater for females than males. Implications of these findings for theories of androgyny and sex-role development are discussed.