Predictors of Self-Injurious Behaviors: A Person by Situation Analysis of Health-Compromising Behavior

One health-related issue gaining momentum and notoriety at the national level is the health disparity between men and women with men experiencing poorer health outcomes in a variety of domains. I propose that one determinant for this disparity is the conformity to masculine gender expectations. As masculine gender expectations are often characterized by displays of toughness and invulnerability, it is important to establish under which conditions these expectations effect health behavior. Study 1 examined the combined effects of participant sex, masculine identity threat, and gender role orientation on self-injurious behavior. Gender role orientation was measured using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory during a mass screening and during the laboratory session participants either received a masculine threat or no threat. Men engaged in more self-injurious behavior than did women. Importantly, gender role orientation qualified this effect with higher masculine men exhibiting more self-injurious behaviors than higher masculine women. Study 2 examined if self-affirmation is one condition under which self-injurious behaviors could be reduced for higher masculine men. After measuring gender role orientation in a prescreening session, male participants were randomly assigned to either a self-affirmation or no self-affirmation condition during laboratory sessions. All men were exposed to a masculine identity threat. As expected, high masculine men given a chance to self-affirm showed a decrease in self-injurious behaviors relative to high masculine men not given this opportunity. Theoretical contributions, implications, and future directions for this line of research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Fowler, Stephanie L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Geers, Andrew

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Sociology
• Masculinity
• Self-Injury
• Self-Identity
• Threat
• Health-Behaviors

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1365090374

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:toledo1365090374