Social Support and Sex Role Orientation as Predictors of Quality of Life in Senior Citizens

The present study was aimed to explore the relationship of social support and sex role orientation with quality of life in senior citizens. The sample comprised of 400 senior citizens with equal number of educated males and females (200 each). The analysis revealed that for the male’s sample, social support explained the maximum variance (5%) followed by femininity (4%) in quality of life. In all, these variables have accounted for 9% of the variance. In female’s sample, only social support has contributed (5%) of variance. Further, t-test has revealed the superiority of males in masculinity, femininity and quality of life and female’s superiority on social support.

Ambivalent sexism as a mediator for sex role orientation and gender stereotypes in romantic relationships: A study in Turkey

The present study examined the mediating effects of ambivalent sexism (hostile and benevolent) in the relationship between sex role orientation (masculinity and femininity) and gender stereotypes (dominance and assertiveness) in college students. The variables were measured using the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), and the Attitudes toward Gender Stereotypes in Romantic Relationships Scale (AGSRRS). These inventories were administered to 250 undergraduate students at Istanbul University in Istanbul and Suleyman Demirel University in Isparta, Turkey. Results indicate that benevolent sexism mediates the relationship between hostile sexism and male dominance. Benevolent sexism also mediates femininity and male dominance, as well as femininity and male assertiveness. Hostile sexism was mediated only between the masculine personality trait and benevolent sexism. The present findings expand the literature on sex role orientation by revealing evidence that masculine and feminine individuals experience ambivalent sexism distinctively. The results are discussed in terms of the assumptions of sex role orientation, ambivalent sexism, and gender stereotypes.

Adolescents’ role in family decision-making for services in India

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the involvement of adolescents in family vacation and dining out on the basis of the type of family. Also, the purpose of this paper is to refine the Scanzoni’s sex role orientation scale (SSRS) in the Indian context. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from adolescents in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh (states in India). The response rate is 44.88 per cent. Sex role orientation was measured using the Scanzoni’s SSRS. Findings There is a decline in the involvement of adolescents through the major decision-making stages for both the services, family vacation and dining out. There is no significant difference in the involvement of adolescents in dual-income and single-income families for a vacation and dining out, except that the children from dual-income families are more involved in destination selection for a vacation. Also, the adolescents in modern families are significantly involved in the sub-decision stages, spending and selection of travel agent. Practical implications The marketers should advertise the vacation destinations to adolescent children in dual-earning families. Also, the travel agencies should design their promotion strategies so as to appeal to the adolescent children with modern attitudes. While catering to the needs of a family, travel agencies must present their services in a way that appeals to adolescents in modern families. Also, this aspect must be taken care of in all the pricing strategies and promotions for the modern families. Originality/value Despite the large number of studies in various Western countries in this area, few studies investigate adolescent influence in family decision-making in India. The present study takes into account the type of family, single income or dual income (on the basis of the employment of parents) and traditional or modern (on the basis of gender role orientation).

Effects of gender and sex-role orientation on sexual attitudes among Turkish university students

My purpose was to investigate the effects of gender and sex-role orientation on attitudes toward autoeroticism/masturbation, abortion, pornography, homosexuality, premarital sex, and sexual coercion among Turkish university students. Participants were 468 undergraduate students from 3 large urban universities in Ankara. The Turkish version of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1974) and the Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Test for Adolescents (SKAT-A; Fullard, Johnston, & Lief, 1998) were used to collect data. Results revealed no sex-role orientation effect on sexual attitudes. Furthermore, no gender differences were observed in attitudes toward masturbation, homosexuality, and premarital sex. The attitude subscales on which meaningful gender differences were found were abortion, pornography, and sexual coercion. Findings are discussed with respect to the role of Turkish culture in the development of attitudes toward sexuality.