The MMPI‐2 Gender‐Masculine and Gender‐Feminine scales: Gender roles as predictors of psychological health in clinical patients

Abstract

Previous research measuring various biosocial factors such as age, sex, and marital status has found them to be essentially unrelated to measures of psychological health. Recent empirical studies have revealed that personality constructs may be more significant than demographic variables in the prediction of psychological well‐being. The present study assessed the personality constructs of masculinity and femininity and hypothesized that the Gender‐Masculine (GM) scale of the MMPI‐2 would be more effective than the Gender‐Feminine (GF) scale in predicting psychological well‐being. This hypothesis stems from previous research that has indicated the dominance of the masculinity model. It is suggested that previous research supporting androgyny as a primary indicator of well‐being was influenced by the masculinity component of this gender orientation. One hundred and seventy‐seven psychiatric patients from Australia (N = 107) and Singapore (N = 70) completed the MMPI‐2. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed significantly stronger masculinity effects, with significance achieved on measures of ego strength and low self‐esteem. No significant relationship between psychological well‐being and the GF variable was found. Similarly, androgyny did not add any further variance to the model when masculinity was controlled for. Overall, the results are consistent with an interpretation that GM is a better correlate of psychological well‐being as compared to the GF scale.