Date of Graduation

12-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychology (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Psychological Science

Advisor/Mentor

Makhanova, Anastasia

Committee Member

Eidelman, Scott H.

Second Committee Member

Veilleux, Jennifer C.

Keywords

Gender Roles; Parenthood; Testosterone; Traditionalism

Abstract

Traditional gender role attitudes align men with resource management and women with nurturing. The Challenge Hypothesis proposes that resource management is associated with higher testosterone levels, whereas nurturing is associated with lower testosterone levels. Therefore, traditional gender role attitudes may be associated with people’s testosterone levels. Furthermore, during the transition to parenthood, traditional gender role attitudes may become particularly salient, as shifting biological, social, and cultural roles during this transition make these attitudes an integral part of daily life. In this longitudinal study of expectant couples, participants completed a baseline survey and baseline session, during which they completed measures and provided saliva samples for testosterone analysis. Although the longitudinal study included additional time points, this analysis focused on baseline data only. Using baseline data from 113 couples (226 individuals), I examined the association between traditional gender role attitudes and testosterone levels. I hypothesized that the association between traditional gender role attitudes and testosterone would be moderated by gender. Among expectant fathers I predicted testosterone would be positively associated with traditional attitudes, emphasizing resource management. Whereas, among expectant mothers, I predicted testosterone would be negatively associated with traditional gender role attitudes, emphasizing nurturing. Additionally, I explored whether these associations would be influenced by a partner's gender role attitudes. I found the actor and partner effects were not significant. That is, the lack of significant effects from traditional gender role attitudes and their interactions in predicting testosterone. Therefore, my hypotheses were not supported.

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