Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


PDF Thesis.pdf (1.72 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Challenges to Forming and Maintaining Cross-Sex Friendships in the Workplace

Fitzpatrick, Brandy E
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1422286076

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Arts (M.A.), Xavier University, Psychology.
This study investigated potential barriers to cross-sex friendships in the workplace by comparing results of perceived challenges to both cross-sex and same-sex friendships in a within-subjects design. O’Meara’s (1989) four proposed challenges to cross-sex friendships have not been directly applied to the workplace setting. In addition, literature has found that cross-sex friendships have barriers beyond the barriers faced by same-sex friendships (Elsesser & Peplau, 2006; Monsour, Harris, Kurzweil, & Beard, 1994), which led to this study’s comparison of challenges to cross-sex and same-sex friendships in the workplace. This study surveyed 64 full-time employees on (1) their perceived opportunity for and prevalence of workplace friendships and (2) their perceived challenges to workplace friendships. Findings revealed that employees were more likely to report opportunities for and prevalence of same-sex friendships than cross-sex friendships in the workplace. Furthermore, employees perceived their cross-sex friendships as having stronger challenges than their same-sex friendships according to the following: the emotional bond challenge, the audience challenge, the sexual challenge, and the equality challenge. Based on these findings, organizations should be aware that employees do not only perceive more opportunities for and prevalence of same-sex friendships than cross-sex friendships, but they are also perceiving more challenges to their cross-sex friendships than same-sex friendships.
Morell Mullins, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Mark Nagy, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Dalia Diab, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
73 p.
Gender; Organizational Behavior; Personal Relationships; Psychology; Social Psychology
cross-sex friendships; same-sex friendships; relationships; workplace; challenges

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fitzpatrick, B. E. (2014). Challenges to Forming and Maintaining Cross-Sex Friendships in the Workplace [Master's thesis, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1422286076

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fitzpatrick, Brandy. Challenges to Forming and Maintaining Cross-Sex Friendships in the Workplace. 2014. Xavier University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1422286076.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fitzpatrick, Brandy. "Challenges to Forming and Maintaining Cross-Sex Friendships in the Workplace." Master's thesis, Xavier University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1422286076

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1422286076
349
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.