EFFECTS OF GENDER-ROLE SELF-DISCREPANCY ON DEPRESSED MOOD

A study by Grimmell and Stern (1992) suggested that gender roles may i nfluence psychological well-being through self-discrepancy - that is, by inducing unfavorable comparisons between one's actual behavior and the imagined behavior of one's gender-role ideal. This study replicate s and extends this general finding. Depressed mood and gender roles ar e each assessed using multiple measures, allowing more detailed explor ations of the nature of any correlation between the two constructs. Fu rther, several cognitive factors, including locus of control, attribut ional style, and self-efficacy, are also measured and controlled stati stically. Results provide support for the self-discrepancy view, but m ore as an influence of enduring mood than as a factor in the genesis o f depressive episodes.