Codependency and gender-stereotyped traits

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between gender, positive and negative gender stereotyped traits, and eight codependency scales among 339 female and 115 male college students. The majority (63%) of the participants were Caucasian. Based on a feminist critique, we expected that women would be more codependent than men, both positive and negative female-stereotyped traits would be associated with codependency, and positive male-stereotyped traits would be inversely related to codependency. Gender differences were found on two of eight codependency measures. The negative femininity scales were strongly and consistently associated with the codependency measures, whereas the positive femininity scale was associated with only one codependency scale in the codependent direction. Positive masculinity was inversely related to codependency on six codependency scales. These findings suggest that codependency does not overlap with valued female-stereotyped traits, but rather with negative feminine traits devalued in both women and men.