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HARTWELL DISSERTATION.pdf (1.9 MB)

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Can Androgyny Lend Balance to Bowen? A Study of Distance Regulation, Sex Roles, Sexism, and Well-being

Hartwell, Erica E
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366305324

Abstract Details

2013, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between distance regulation, sex roles, sexism, and well-being in late adolescents and their parents in order to validate a feminist conceptualization of Bowen family systems theory, in which effective distance regulation is related to a balance in male and female-typed traits, or androgyny. This study aimed to evaluate three hypotheses: 1) distance regulation will be predictive of sex-typed traits; individuals who demonstrate balance of separateness and connectedness will show high levels of both male-typed and female-typed traits; sexism may mediate this relationship, 2) parent distance regulation and androgyny will be predictive of these traits in their children, based on the concept of intergenerational transmission, 3) both distance regulation and androgyny are adaptive and will predict overall well-being. To test these hypotheses, a random sample of college students (n = 150) and their parents (n = 36) were asked to complete a survey that included the Family Distance Regulation Scale (FDR), Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ), the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), and the Affect Balance Scale (ABS). The three hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results did not support hypotheses 1 and 2 and it was suggested that this is due to measurement issues, sample size, and the life cycle stage of college students and their parents. Hypothesis 3 was partially supported, in that androgyny was related to well-being. However, female participants appeared less well than male participants and this issue is discussed in light of a feminist framework and measurement issues. Recommendations for future studies include a larger parent sample, a parent-child sample from more stable life cycle stages, and a social constructionist approach to measurement.
Suzanne Bartle-Haring, PhD (Advisor)
Susan Saltzburg, PhD (Committee Member)
Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, PhD (Committee Member)
118 p.
Families and Family Life; Gender Studies; Individual and Family Studies; Therapy; Womens Studies
family systems; androgyny; feminist; sex roles; Bowen; differentiation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hartwell, E. E. (2013). Can Androgyny Lend Balance to Bowen? A Study of Distance Regulation, Sex Roles, Sexism, and Well-being [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366305324

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hartwell, Erica. Can Androgyny Lend Balance to Bowen? A Study of Distance Regulation, Sex Roles, Sexism, and Well-being. 2013. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366305324.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hartwell, Erica. "Can Androgyny Lend Balance to Bowen? A Study of Distance Regulation, Sex Roles, Sexism, and Well-being." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366305324

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1366305324
840
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.