ANDROGYNY AND COPING IN MEN WITH A MANAGERIAL ORIENTATION

To examine the relationship between sex-role orientation and coping ab ility in men with a managerial orientation, a demographic questionnair e, the Zeitlin Coping Inventory and the Bem Sex-role Inventory were co mpleted by 169 adult males undertaking the Master of Business Administ ration (MBA) course at the University of Stellenbosch Graduate School of Business. No significant difference was found between the global co ping abilities of subjects with androgynous and masculine sex-role ori entations, although both androgynous and masculine subjects showed sig nificantly better coping abilities than subjects with feminine or undi fferentiated sex-role orientations. Regarding coping styles, androgyno us subjects displayed a significantly more flexible style in coping wi th the environment than subjects with other sex-role orientations. No significant difference was found between androgynous and masculine sub jects regarding flexibility in coping with the self. The conclusion wa s drawn that both androgyny and masculinity could serve as effective c oping resources in men with a managerial orientation.