The relationship of masculine gender role stress to emotional expressiveness, psychophysiological reactivity, and social support

Abstract

There has been increasing concern that the cultural imposition of masculine gender role norms contributes to physical and mental health disorders among men. The construct of masculine gender role stress (MGRS) is a gender based perspective of stress which posits that masculine gender role cognitive schemata are employed by men to appraise potential threat in the environment and guide their coping responses. Heavy reliance on these schemata is believed to increase stress and restrict coping behavior. The current study examined the relationship of MGRS to the appraisal and psychophysiological and behavioral responses of males in situations demanding emotional expression. Sixty male college students scoring in the upper and lower third of the MGRS scale distribution responded to role play scenarios designed to elicit angry and tender emotional responses. Subjects rated how stressful they found the tasks to be. Ratings of the level of nonverbal and verbal expressiveness in subjects' responses were also obtained. Cardiovascular reactivity was measured during subjects' verbal and nonverbal responses.