The Role of Self-Construals on Gender Roles, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Psychological Symptoms

Abstract

Previous studies have revealed the relationship between self-construals, gender roles, emotion regulation and psychological symptoms. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of self-construals on the relationship between gender roles, emotion regulation difficulties and psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, somatization). The sample of the study consists of 471 participants (273 females, 58%; 198 males, 42%; Mage=33.86, SD=10.5). Participants completed Balanced Integration-Differentation Scale (BID), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation-Brief Form (DERS-16), Gender Roles Attitude Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and demographic information form. The result of the Multiple Linear Regression analyses revealed that predictors of psychological symptoms and their predictive strength differed for self-types. Difficulty in accepting one’s emotions predicted anxiety only for the separated-individuation self-type. Egalitarian gender attitudes and difficulties in managing negative feelings predicted somatization for the relational-individuation self-type. Marriage related gender attitudes and impulsivity predicted somatization for the relational-patterned self-type. Additionally, the strength of predictions was higher for the separated-individuation self type. The study draws attention to social factors of psychological symptoms and contributes to the literature within the field of self-construals and psychological health.