Individual differences in attributional style

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to expand on achievement attribution research by investigating the relationship between individual differences in attributional styles for success and failure and sex, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and sex role identity. A sample of 163 undergraduate students at a large midwestern university completed a test packet containing the Attributional Style Questionnaire, the Self-Efficacy Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Multiple correlation and regression analyses were used to analyze their responses. Results indicated that masculinity and self-esteem were important in the prediction of the adaptive success attributions of women and masculinity was important in the prediction of the adaptive success attributions of men, however, sex and femininity had little relationship with success and failure attributions. Masculinity was the best unique predictor of attributional styles for success and failure. In addition, better prediction occurred for attributional styles for success than attributional styles for failure. The implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations for future research are made.