Gender Role Conflicts, Marital Relationship Quality and Psychological Distress in Married Men

Author: Sana Nawaz Khan
Supervisor: Farhana Nasim & Rukhsana Kausar, PhD
Degree: M.Sc
Year: 2013-2015
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract

The aim of the present research was to find out the relationship between gender role conflicts, marital relationship quality and psychological distress in married men. It was hypothesized that; there would be relationship between gender role conflicts, marital relationship quality and psychological distress in married men; gender role conflicts; and marital relationship quality would be predictors of psychological distress in married men; marital relationship quality will likely to mediate the relationship between gender role conflicts and psychological distress in married men. A sample of 100 married men (Age M = 32.76, SD = 6.41) was collected from community settings. Gender Role Conflict Scale (O’Neil, 1986), Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, 1991) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (Kessler & Mroczek, 1992) were used for assessment. Correlation analysis, hierarchal regression and mediation analysis were applied. It was found that there is no relationship between gender role conflicts (success, power and competition and conflict between work and family relations) and marital relationship quality and psychological distress. Gender role conflicts (restrictive emotionality) was negatively correlated with marital relationship quality and positively correlated with psychological distress; it was found that gender role conflicts (restrictive affectionate behavior between men) was negatively correlated with marital relationship quality and positively related with psychological distress and marital relationship quality was negatively correlated with psychological distress; marital relationship quality mediated the relationship between the gender role conflicts (restrictive emotionality and restrictive affectionate behavior between men) and psychological distress. The men whose wives do job perceived more gender role conflicts, deteriorated marital relationship quality and more psychological distress as compared to men whose wives don’t. Men living in rural areas perceived more psychological distress as compared  to men who were living in urban areas. The research has important implications in the field of marital counseling in order to provide assistance to married individuals for the betterment of their relationship.

Keywords: Gender Role Conflicts, Relationship Quality, Psychological Distress.
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Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245

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