Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender Conceptualizations in Female High School Seniors: Relationships with Global Self-Worth and Multiple Measures of Body Image

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if gender-role conceptualizations in adolescent girls were related to their global self-worth and several dimensions of their body image. Self-report surveys were administered to 335 predominantly Caucasian Grade 12 girls from religiously-based high schools in the midwestern part of the United States. It was hypothesized that adolescent females’ gender-typing of themselves as well as their gender-related attitudes towards others would be significantly, and possibly divergently, related to their perceptions of themselves and their physical bodies. Obtained data were analyzed using multivariate canonical correlation procedures. The results of these analyses revealed support for the predicted overall relationship between gender conceptualizations and self-perceptions, but also indicated some differences in the way in which the two dimensions of gender-role conceptualizations (personal and attitudes towards others) were associated with adolescents’ perceptions of themselves. Specifically, girls exhibiting more egalitarian gender-related attitudes towards others scored higher on global self-worth and lower in body appearance orientation. In addition, higher self-endorsement on the masculine subscales was linked with higher global self-worth, lower social physique anxiety, and higher use of competence to evaluate the physical body. In contrast, high self-endorsement on the feminine subscales exhibited mixed links to the set of self-perceptual variables.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bowker, A., Gadbois, S., & Cornock, B. (2003). Sports participation and self-esteem: Variations as a function of gender and gender orientations. Sex Roles, 49, 47–58. doi:10.1023/A:1023909619409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bane, S., & McAuley, E. (1998). Body image and exercise. In J. L. Duda (Ed.), Advances in sport and exercise psychology measurement (pp. 311–322). Morgantown: Fitness Information Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cash, T. F., & Pruzinsky, T. (Eds.). (2002). Body image: A handbook of theory, research, and clinical practice. NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power and analyses for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Courville, T., & Thompson, B. (2001). Use of structure coefficients in published multiple regression articles: β is not enough. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 61, 229–248. doi:10.1177/0013164401612006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crago, M., Shisslak, C. M., & Estes, L. S. (1996). Eating disturbances among American minority groups: A review. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 19, 239–248. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199604)19:3<239::AID-EAT2>3.0.CO;2-N.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crouter, A. C., Whiteman, S. D., McHale, S. M., & Osgood, D. W. (2007). Development of gender attitude traditionality across middle childhood and adolescence. Child Development, 78, 911–926. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01040.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davison, T. E., & McCabe, M. P. (2006). Adolescent body image and psychosocial functioning. Journal of Social Psychology, 146, 15–30. doi:10.3200/SOCP.146.1.15-30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eklund, R. C., Mack, D., & Hart, E. (1996). Factorial validity of the social physique anxiety scale for females. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18, 281–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entwisle, D. R., & Astone, N. M. (1994). Some practical guidelines for measuring youth’s race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Child Development, 65, 1521–1540. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00833.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field, A. E., Camargo, C. A., Taylor, C. B., Berkey, C. S., Frazier, L., Gillman, M. W., et al. (1999). Overweight, weight concerns and bulimic behaviors among girls and boys. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 754–760. doi:10.1097/00004583-199906000-00024.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fingeret, M. C., & Gleaves, D. H. (2004). Sociocultural, feminist, and psychological influences on women’s body satisfaction: A structural modeling analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 28, 370–380. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2004.00154.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, T. L., Kowalski, K. C., Humbert, M. L., Fagan, K. R., Cannon, M. J., & Girolami, T. M. (2006). Body-related emotional experiences of young aboriginal women. Qualitative Health Research, 16, 517–537. doi:10.1177/1049732306286846.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women’s lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilligan, C. (1993). Joining the resistance: Psychology, politics, girls and women. In L. Weis & M. Fine (Eds.), Beyond silenced voices (pp. 143–168). Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, E. A., Leary, M. R., & Rejeski, W. J. (1989). The measurement of social physique anxiety. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11, 94–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, B. I., & Thompson, J. M. (1996). Gender role characteristics and depressive symptomatology among adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 16, 407–426. doi:10.1177/0272431696016004003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harter, S. (1988). The Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Unpublished manual, University of Denver.

  • Harter, S. (1999). The construction of the self: A developmental perspective. NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harter, S., Waters, P. L., Whitesell, N. R., & Kastelic, D. (1998). Level of voice among female and male high school students: Relational context, support, and gender orientation. Developmental Psychology, 34, 892–901. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.34.5.892.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, H. D., McNair, R., Vojick, A., Congdon, D., Monacelli, J., & Lamont, J. (2006). Categorical and continuous measurement of sex-role orientation: Differences in associations with young adults’ reports of well-being. Social Behavior and Personality, 34, 59–76. doi:10.2224/sbp.2006.34.1.59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Grange, D., Telch, C. F., & Tibbs, J. (1998). Eating attitudes and behaviors in 1435 South African, Caucasian, and non-Caucasian college students. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 250–254.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, S. J., & Koerner, S. S. (2004). Adolescent women’s sports involvement and sexual behavior/health: A process-level investigation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33, 443–455. doi:10.1023/B:JOYO.0000037636.22596.41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, M. P., & Smolak, L. (2002). Body image development in adolescence. In T. F. Cash & T. Pruzinsky (Eds.), Body image: A handbook of theory, research, and clinical practice (pp. 74–82). NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liben, L. S., & Bigler, R. S. (2002). The developmental course of gender differentiation. Monographs of the Society for Research on Child Development, 67 (2, Serial No. 269).

  • McHale, S. M., Kim, J. Y., Dotterer, A. M., Crouter, A. C., & Booth, A. (2009). The development of gendered interests and personality qualities from middle childhood through adolescence: A biosocial analysis. Child Development, 80, 482–495. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01273.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McHugh, T. L., Kowalski, K. C., Mack, D. E., Crocker, P. R. E., Junkin, S. E., Lejback, L. K., et al. (2008). Young women’s experiences of social physique anxiety. Feminism and Psychology, 18, 231–252. doi:10.1177/0959353507088593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murnen, S. K., & Smolak, L. (2009). Are feminist women protected from body image problems? A meta-analytic review of relevant research. Sex Roles, 60, 186–197. doi:10.1007/s11199-008-9523-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paquette, M.-C., & Raine, K. (2004). Sociocultural context of women’s body image. Social Science and Medicine, 59, 1047–1058. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2003.12.016.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petrie, T. A., Greenleaf, C., Reel, J., & Carter, J. (2009). Personality and psychological factors as predictors of disordered eating among female collegiate athletes. Eating Disorders, 17, 302–321. doi:10.1080/10640260902991160.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piran, N., & Cormier, H. C. (2005). The social construction of women and disordered eating patterns. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 549–558. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.4.549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricciardelli, L. A., & McCabe, M. P. (2001). Self-esteem and negative affect as moderators of sociocultural influences on body dissatisfaction, strategies to decrease weight and strategies to increase muscles among adolescent boys and girls. Sex Roles, 44, 189–207. doi:10.1023/A:1010955120359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richman, E. L., & Shaffer, D. R. (2000). If you let me play sports: How might sport participation influence the self-esteem of adolescent females? Psychology of Women Quarterly, 24, 189–199. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2000.tb00200.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, R. W., & Trzesniewski, K. H. (2005). Self-esteem development across the lifespan. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14, 158–162. doi:10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00353.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabiston, C. M., Sedgwick, W. A., Crocker, P. R. E., Kowalski, K. C., & Mack, D. E. (2007). Social physique anxiety in adolescence: An exploration of influences, coping strategies, and health behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22, 78–101. doi:10.1177/0743558406294628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherry, A., & Henson, R. K. (2005). Conducting and interpreting canonical correlation analysis in personality research: A user-friendly primer. Journal of Personality Assessment, 84, 37–48. doi:10.1207(s15327752jpa8401_09.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Signorella, M. L. (1999). Multidimensionality of gender schemas: Implications for the development of gender-related characteristics. In W. B. Swann Jr., J. H. Langlois, & L. A. Gilbert (Eds.), Sexism and stereotypes in modern society: The gender science of Janet Taylor Spence (pp. 107–126). Washington: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/10277-005.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Signorella, M. L., & Frieze, I. H. (2008). Interrelations of gender schemas in children and adolescents: Attitudes, preferences, and self-perceptions. Social Behavior and Personality, 36, 941–954. doi:10.2224/sbp.2008.36.7.941.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., & Buckner, C. E. (2000). Instrumental and expressive traits, trait stereotypes, and sexist attitudes. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 24, 44–62. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2000.tb01021.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spurgas, A. K. (2005). Body image and cultural background. Sociological Inquiry, 75, 297–316. doi:10.1111/j.1475-682X.2005.00124.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E. (2001). A prospective test of the dual-pathway model of bulimic pathology: Mediating effects of dieting and negative affect. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110, 124–135. doi:10.1037//0021-843X.110.1.124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Story, M., French, S. A., Resnick, M. D., & Blum, R. W. (1995). Ethnic/racial and socioeconomic differences in dieting behaviors and body image perceptions in adolescents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 18, 173–179. doi:10.1002/1098-108X(199509)18:2<173::AID-EAT2260180210>3.0.CO;2-Q.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Theran, S. A. (2009). Predictors of level of voice in adolescent girls: Ethnicity, attachment, and gender role socialization. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 1027–1037. doi:10.1007/s10964-008-9340-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tiggemann, M., Gardiner, & Slater, A. (2000). I would rather be size 10 than have straight A’s: A focus group study of adolescent girls’ wish to be thinner. Journal of Adolescence, 23, 645–659. doi:10.1006/jado.2000.0350.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Usmiani, S., & Daniluk, J. (1997). Mothers and their adolescent daughters: Relationship between self-esteem, gender role identity, and body image. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 26, 45–62. doi:10.1023/A:1024588112108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Health, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Thelma S. Horn & Julianne Evers

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, 54601, USA

    Jocelyn H. Newton

Authors
  1. Thelma S. Horn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jocelyn H. Newton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julianne Evers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thelma S. Horn.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Horn, T.S., Newton, J.H. & Evers, J. Gender Conceptualizations in Female High School Seniors: Relationships with Global Self-Worth and Multiple Measures of Body Image. Sex Roles 65, 383–396 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0028-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0028-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation