A Meta-Analytic Review of Gender-Role Dimensions and Relationship Satisfaction

Abstract

Multilevel meta-analytic techniques were used to examine the overall relationship between self-reported gender-role dimensions (psychological femininity and psychological masculinity) and self-reported relationship satisfaction. Twenty-six studies (43 effect sizes) were included in the femininity-relationship satisfaction meta-analysis, and 26 studies (43 effect sizes) were included in the masculinity-relationship satisfaction meta-analysis. Femininity revealed a stronger association with relationship satisfaction than masculinity: there was a medium relationship (r= .28) between femininity and relationship satisfaction and a small relationship (r= .13) between masculinity and relationship satisfaction. Sex/gender was not a moderator in either meta-analysis. Publication biases were not detected. Implications and recommendations are discussed.