Abstract
This study examined the interrelationships among role conflict, gender role orientation, and female sport participation. One hundred six female high school athletes and nonathletes were administered the Personal Attributes Questionnaire and a role conflict inventory. Multivariate analyses revealed that athletes experienced significantly higher levels of role conflict than nonathletes, but a nonsignificant relationship was found between role conflict and gender role orientation. Role conflict was also unrelated to type of sport, although team athletes high in feminine orientation perceived higher role conflict than low feminine oriented athletes. Overall, levels of perceived and experienced role conflict were low. In sum, role conflict does not appear a major concern for adolescent female athletes nor was gender role orientation a factor related to conflict between the roles of female and athlete.
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This study was based on a master's thesis in Physical Education and Human Movement Studies by the first author under the guidance of the second author at the University of Oregon.
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Desertrain, G.S., Weiss, M.R. Being female and athletic: A cause for conflict?. Sex Roles 18, 567–582 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287961
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287961