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The relationship between gender roles and sexual satisfaction in heterosexual relationships /

This study explores the interactive effects of stereotypical masculine and feminine personality traits and attitudes upon individual and dyadic sexual satisfaction. It was hypothesized that (a) sexual satisfaction would be positively related to masculinity and femininity, as defined by the presence of instrumental and expressive qualities, for both males and females, (b) sexual satisfaction would be positively related to androgyny for both males and females, and (c) couples consisting of two androgynous partners would be more sexually satisfied than couples where both partners were sex-typed (i.e., masculine male-feminine female), cross-typed (i.e., feminine male-masculine female) or undifferentiated. The sample consisted of heterosexual married and cohabiting couples (N = 93). Subjects completed the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD; Crowne & Marlowe, 1960, cited in Robinson, Shaver & Wrightman, 1991), the Short Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1981), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS; Spanier, 1976, 1989) and the Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory (PSSI; Pinney, Gerrard & Denney, 1987). The first hypothesis is rejected for both males and females, the second hypothesis is supported for males and rejected for females, and the third hypothesis is supported for couples. Instrumentality is negatively correlated with sexual satisfaction, particularly for women, while expressivity is positively correlated with sexual satisfaction for both men and women. Androgynous men and feminine women are more sexually satisfied than any other group; in both cases however, it is suggested that increments in expressivity account for increases in sexual satisfaction. Androgynous couples are more sexually satisfied than sex-typed, cross-typed, and undifferentiated couples; however, self-reported sexual satisfaction varies for individual partners. Implications for the existing androgyny model regarding sexual satisfaction are discussed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.56926
Date January 1992
CreatorsMarchese, Sara
ContributorsMaroun, Ted (advisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Arts (Department of Educational Psychology and Counselling.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001324767, proquestno: AAIMM87647, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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