Interrelations of patriarchal beliefs, gender, collectivism/individualism, and mental health

Abstract

ABSTRACT By using web-survey data from 236 US American adults, this study examined (a) the relations of cultural orientations and patriarchal beliefs and whether these relations varied by gender and (b) the relations of patriarchal beliefs and mental health and whether these relations varied by gender and cultural orientations. As hypothesized, cultural orientations were significantly related to patriarchal beliefs. Specifically, individuals who endorsed higher (vs. lower) levels of horizontal individualism (i.e. individualism emphasizing equal relations), vertical individualism (i.e. individualism emphasizing hierarchical relations), or vertical collectivism (i.e. collectivism emphasizing hierarchical relations) indicated greater patriarchal beliefs. Men who endorsed higher (vs. lower) levels of horizontal collectivism (i.e. collectivism emphasizing equal relations) revealed lower patriarchal beliefs, which were not found among women. As hypothesized, patriarchal beliefs were related to depression. This relationship did not differ by gender but varied by cultural orientations. Patriarchal beliefs were positively associated with depression only at low levels of vertical collectivism, whereas patriarchal beliefs tended to be positively related to negative affect only at high levels of vertical individualism. Implications for research and practice were discussed.