Effects of person-environment fit of gender-role orientation on burnout, engagement and hair steroids as stress biomarkers among women

Abstract Background Analysis on gender related differences in occupational stress and burnout levels usually reveal higher occupational stress and burnout levels for women compared to men, especially in male-dominated working environments. In opposition to group differentiation, more specific gender-related dimensions feminity and masculinity were used in the study to describe individual and work environment characteristics and analyze their effects. Methods In a cross-sectional design, survey results were linked to steroid levels in hair samples. Data was collected in a German medical services company with 146 employed women age 22–66 years (M = 40.48, SD = 10.38), 58 of them provided hair samples for steroid detection. Feminity and masculinity were measured by Gender Role Orientation Scale GTS+. Two Person-Environment fit scores in feminity and masculinity were calculated by subtracting individual from environment values. Both fit scores were proved as predictors in hierarchical linear regression models predicting burnout and work engagement as well as hair steroids cortisol, cortisone, DHEA, testosterone and progesterone detected by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as stress biomarkers. Bivariate correlations as well as moderator and mediator analysis were implemented. Results After considering age, role clarity, and work organization, Person-Environment fit in feminity still added significant variance explanation (β = .23, ∆ R2 = .05, p = .003) for burnout. Person-Environment fit in feminity also explained poor variance in work engagement (β = −.29, R2 = .09, p < .001). Person-Environment fit in masculinity added considerable variance explanation (β = .34, ∆ R2 = .12, p = 0.018) to cortisol levels after including quantitative demands to the model. Conclusions Person-Environment fit in feminity might be inspected as a predictor for burnout and work engagement. Person-Environment fit in masculinity can be taken into consideration as a predictor for hair cortisol as stress biomarker. Feminity and masculinity can be used as personality traits as well as characteristics of work environment, thus providing a particular gender-role related method of differentiation within gender groups. Also, specific methods could be derived for stress and burnout prevention and promotion of work engagement. Representative population studies with bigger samples and longitudinal surveys are needed to better explore the benefits and limitations of this approach.

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Research Effects of Person-Environment Fit of Gender-Role Orientation on Burnout, Engagement and Hair Steroids as Stress Biomarkers Among Women

10.21203/rs.3.rs-162495/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eva Wacker ◽

Julia Schorlemmer ◽

Axel Fischer

Keyword(s):

Gender Role ◽

Work Environment ◽

Work Engagement ◽

Control Variable ◽

Role Clarity ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Stress Biomarkers ◽

Hair Samples ◽

Person Environment Fit ◽

As Stress

Abstract Background Gender differences usually reveal higher occupational stress and burnout levels for women compared to men, especially in male-dominated working environments. In opposition to group differentiation, more specific gender-related dimensions feminity and masculinity were used in the study to describe individual and work environment characteristics and analyze their effects. Methods Two Person-Environment fit scores in feminity and masculinity were calculated by subtracting individual from environment values. Both fit scores were proved as predictors in hierarchical linear regression models predicting burnout and work engagement as well as hair steroids cortisol, cortisone, DHEA, testosterone and progesterone detected by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as stress biomarkers. Age as control variable and workplace characteristics were included in the analysis. Bivariate correlations as well as moderator and mediator analysis were implemented. Data was collected in a German medical services company with 146 employed women age 22–66 years (M = 40.48, SD = 10.38), 58 of them provided hair samples for steroid detection. Results After considering age, role clarity, and work organization, Person-Environment fit in feminity still added significant variance explanation (β = .23, ∆ R² = .05, p = .003) for burnout (R² = 0.40, p < .001). Person-Environment fit in feminity also explained poor variance in work engagement (β = − .29, R² = .09, p < .001). Person-Environment fit in masculinity added considerable variance explanation (β = .34, ∆ R² = .12, p = 0.018) to cortisol levels (R² = .19, p = .012) after including quantitative demands to the model. Conclusions Person-Environment fit in feminity might be inspected as a predictor for burnout and work engagement. Person-Environment fit in masculinity can be taken into consideration as a predictor for hair cortisol as stress biomarker. Feminity and masculinity can be used as personality traits as well as characteristics of work environment, thus providing a particular gender-role related method of differentiation within gender groups. Also, specific methods could be derived for stress and burnout prevention and promotion of work engagement. Representative population studies with bigger samples and longitudinal surveys are needed to better explore the benefits and limitations of this approach.

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Gender-role orientation and social expectations regarding female adolescents' coping with developmental tasks 1The preparation of this article was facilitated by a grant from the Swiss National Foundation for young researchers, financed by the local research committee of the University of Fribourg to the first author during her stay at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. We are grateful to Susan B. Cleary for editing the English version of this article.

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024//1421-0185.58.4.273 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 273-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Regula P. Berger ◽

Alexander Grob ◽

August Flammer

Keyword(s):

Gender Role ◽

Female Gender ◽

Role Orientation ◽

Developmental Tasks ◽

Developmental Task ◽

Gender Role Orientation ◽

Research Committee ◽

National Foundation ◽

Normative Expectations ◽

The University

This study focuses on the importance of social developmental expectations, assessed as emotional and cognitive evaluations regarding the timing and the gender-role conformity of normative developmental tasks. Two central questions were raised. First, to what degree do the timing and the gender-role conformity affect the adults' expectations? Second, how much does the adults' own gender-role orientation (GRO), classified as traditional vs. liberal, affect their expectations? A 4 (timing modus) × 2 (developmental task) × 2 (gender-role conformity)-factorial design was administered to a sample of 140 adults of both sexes, 20 to 81 years old. Coping in time and with gender-role typical career received the most approval. Typical developmental tasks were more approved by persons with a traditional than with a liberal GRO. However, the evaluation of non-typical developmental tasks was not affected by the GRO. The possibility of a shift in normative expectations toward more liberal, diverse, and self-defined female gender-roles is discussed.

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The Relationship of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Gender-Role Orientation in Four National Samples

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001.28.2.78 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 78-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Stefan J. Troche ◽

Nina Weber ◽

Karina Hennigs ◽

Carl-René Andresen ◽

Thomas H. Rammsayer

Keyword(s):

Gender Role ◽

Sex Role ◽

Role Orientation ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Gender Role Orientation ◽

Left Hand ◽

Fourth Finger ◽

And Gender ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. The ratio of second to fourth finger length (2D:4D ratio) is sexually dimorphic with women having higher 2D:4D ratio than men. Recent studies on the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation yielded rather inconsistent results. The present study examines the moderating influence of nationality on the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation, as assessed with the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, as a possible explanation for these inconsistencies. Participants were 176 female and 171 male university students from Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden ranging in age from 19 to 32 years. Left-hand 2D:4D ratio was significantly lower in men than in women across all nationalities. Right-hand 2D:4D ratio differed only between Swedish males and females indicating that nationality might effectively moderate the sexual dimorphism of 2D:4D ratio. In none of the examined nationalities was a reliable relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation obtained. Thus, the assumption of nationality-related between-population differences does not seem to account for the inconsistent results on the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation.

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