Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Path Models of the Relationships of Instrumentality and Expressiveness to Social Self-Efficacy, Shyness, and Depressive Symptoms

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was designed to examine path models of the relationships of instrumentality, expressiveness, and social self-efficacy to shyness and depressive symptoms in college students. Models indicated strong relationships between social self-efficacy and instrumentality; the relationship of instrumentality to depressive symptoms was mediated by its relationship to social self-efficacy. The relationship of social self-efficacy to depressive symptoms was direct and was also mediated by its relationship to expressiveness. These findings provide new information on how gender role-related personality traits may be protective against depression.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

references

  • Bakan, D. (1966). The duality of human existence. Chicago: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, 191-215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 1-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A., Pastorelli, C., Barbaranelli, C., & Caprara, G. V. (1999). Self-efficacy pathways to childhood depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 258-269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory manual—(2nd ed) San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bem, S. L. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 155-162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1995). EQS Structural Equations Program manual. Encino, CA: Multivariate Software.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broderick, P. C., & Korteland, C. (2002). Coping style and depression in early adolescence. Sex Roles, 46, 201-220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M., & Cudeck, R. (1992). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. Sociological Methods and Research, 21, 230-258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M. (1994). Structural equation modeling with EQS and EQSI windows. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheek, J. M. (1983). The revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale. Unpublished manuscript, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheek, J. M., & Buss, A. H. (1981). Shyness and sociability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41, 330-339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, V., & Segrin, C. (1998). The influence of self-efficacy and of gender on the performance of social and nonsocial tasks. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 26, 374-389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, E. (1987). Psychological androgyny: A review of the research. Counseling Psychologist, 15, 47-51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glass, G. V., & Hopkins, K. D. (1984). Statistical methods in psychology and education (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamer, R. J., & Bruch, M. A. (1997). Personality factors and inhibited career development: Testing the unique contribution of shyness. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 50, 382-400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helmreich, R., & Stapp, J. (1974). Short forms of the Texas Social Behavior Inventory: An objective measure of self-esteem. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 4, 473-475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt, C. L., & Ellis, J. B. (1998). Assessing the current validity of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Sex Roles, 39, 929-941.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1-55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, M. G. (1993). Expressiveness does predict well-being. Sex Roles, 29, 147-169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, W. H., & Briggs, S. R. (1986). Manual for the Social Reticence Scale. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, W. H., Briggs, S. R., & Smith, T. G. (1986). Shyness: Conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 629-639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, W. H., Chernovetz, M. E., & Hansson, R. O. (1978). The enigma of androgyny: Differential implications for males and females? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 298-313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leary, M. (1991). Social anxiety, shyness, and related constructs. In J. P. Robinson, R. Shaver, & L. W. Wrightsman (Eds.), Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes (pp. 161-194). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leary, N. (1983). Social anxiousness: The construct and measurement. Journal of Personality Assessment, 47, 66-75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lengua, L. J., & Stormshak, E. A. (2000). Gender, gender roles, and personality: Gender differences in the prediction of coping and psychological symptoms. Sex Roles, 43, 787-818.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCallum, R. C., & Austin, J. T. (2000). Applications of structural equation modeling in psychological research. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 201-226.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCallum, R. C., Roznowski, M., & Necowitz, L. B. (1992). Model modifications in covariance structure analysis: The problem of capitalization on chance. Psychological Bulletin, 111, 490-504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcotte, D., Alain, M., & Gosselin, M. J. (1999). Gender differences in adolescent depression: Gender-typed characteristics or problem-solving skills deficits? Sex Roles, 41, 31-47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, S., & Bruch, M. (1988). Shyness and dysfunction in career development. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 35, 159-165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, C. J. (1986). Sex role perceptions and social anxiety in opposite-sex and same-sex situations. Sex Roles, 14, 383-395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roos, P. E., & Cohen, L. H. (1987). Sex roles and social support as moderators of life stress adjustment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 576-585.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russo, N. F., Green, B. L., & Knight, G. (1993). The relationship of gender, self-esteem, and instrumentality to depressive symptomatology. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 12, 218-236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saltzman, K. M., & Holahan, C. J. (2002). Social support, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms: An integrative model. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 21, 309-322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, L. A., & Fox, N. A. (1999). Conceptual, biological, and behavioral distinctions among different categories of shy children. In L. A. Schmidt & J. Schulkin (Eds.), Extreme fear, shyness, and social phobic (pp. 47-66). New York: OxfordUniversity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, L. A., & Schulkin, J. (1999). Extreme fear, shyness, and social phobic. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, M. J., Heppner, P. P., & Dixon, W. A. (1995). Gender role conflict, instrumentality, expressiveness, and well-being in adult men. Sex Roles, 33, 1-18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaver, P., Schwartz, J., Kirson, D., & O'Connor, C. (1987). Emotion knowledge: Further exploration of a prototype approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 1061-1086.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherer, M., & Adams, C. (1983). Construct validation of the self-efficacy scale. Psychological Reports, 53, 899-902.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, H. M., & Betz, N. E. (2000). Development and validation of a scale of perceived social self-efficacy. Journal of Career Assessment, 8, 283-301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, H. M., & Betz, N. E. (2002). An examination of efficacy and esteem pathways to depression in young adulthood. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49, 438-448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., & Buckner, C. E. (2000). Instrumental and expressive traits, trait stereotypes, and sexist attitudes: What do they signify? Psychology of Women Quarterly, 24, 44-62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R. L., & Stapp, J. (1974). The Personal Attributes Questionnaire: A measure of sex role stereotypes and masculinity–femininity. JSAS: Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 4, 43-44. (Ms. No. 617)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R. L., & Stapp, J. (1975). Ratings of self and peers on sex-role attributes and their relation to self-esteem and conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32, 29-39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stake, J. E. (1997). Integrating expressiveness and instrumentality in real-life settings: A new perspective on the benefits of androgyny. Sex Roles, 37, 541-564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, C. A. (2000). Models and measurement of psychological androgyny: A cross-cultural extension of theory and research. Sex Roles, 43, 529-552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., & Friend, R. (1969). Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 33, 448-457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitley, B. E. Jr., (1984). Sex-role orientation and psychological well-being: Two meta-analyses. Sex Roles, 12, 207-225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhill, B. M., & Samuels, C. A. (2003). Positive and negative androgyny and their relationship with psychological health and well-being. Sex Roles, 48, 555-565.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

    Karen S. Hermann & Nancy E. Betz

Authors
  1. Karen S. Hermann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nancy E. Betz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nancy E. Betz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hermann, K.S., Betz, N.E. Path Models of the Relationships of Instrumentality and Expressiveness to Social Self-Efficacy, Shyness, and Depressive Symptoms. Sex Roles 51, 55–66 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SERS.0000032309.71973.14

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SERS.0000032309.71973.14

Search

Navigation