Abstract
This study, designed to respond to current limitations in gender role identity measurement, presents a conceptual and empirical approach to gender role identity that relies on ego developmental theory. To begin the process of construct validation of this approach to gender role identity, gender role identity was examined in relation to ego development, gender, and marital status. Gender role identity was measured via an interview adapted from Waterman and by the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Ego development was assessed via Loevinger's Sentence Completion Test of Ego Development. The sample consisted of 107 young adult men and women, married and single. In support of construct validity, the gender role interview was found to be correlated with the ego development measure. In support of discriminant validity, different patterns of correlates by gender were found between the gender role interview and the Bem Sex Role Inventory.
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This research was supported by a National Institute of Mental Health grant (MH 31719) to Kathleen M. White at Boston University and by a NIMH postdoctoral training program (MH 17058) administered by Joseph Pleck at the Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College. My appreciation to Kathie White and to Joe Pleck for their help and encouragement. This work was also supported by a Wellesley College internship program. My thanks to Beth Anderson and Meridee Williams for their internship work during the summer of 1985 and to Debbie Bandanza and Cathleen Hoadley for their assistance as January 1985 interns.
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Costos, D. Gender role identity from an ego developmental perspective. Sex Roles 22, 723–741 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292057
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292057