Sensation seeking, felt gender compatibility and psychosocial adjustment in women

Abstract

Past research has linked higher felt gender compatibility with higher psychosocial adjustment (Egan and Perry, 2001), and sensation seeking (SS) with masculinity and poorer psychosocial adjustment (Zuckerman, 1979; 1994). The present study hypothesized that women high in SS would report low levels of felt gender compatibility and adjustment, and that felt compatibility would mediate the relationship between SS and psychosocial adjustment in women. In line with predictions, certain forms of felt gender compatibility mediated the relationship between certain forms of SS and psychosocial adjustment. Boredom susceptibility was most problematic for women at a state university, whereas disinhibition was most problematic for women at a religious university. Results replicate and extend past research, and suggest potential interventions for high SS women experiencing low levels of felt gender compatibility.