Gender-role traits and depression: Self-esteem and control as mediators

Abstract

Three hundred and one clinical nurses in Taiwan participated in a questionnaire study to empirically test a proposed integrative model of gender-role traits and depression. Measurements of masculinity, femininity, self-esteem, locus of control and depression were taken. Using multivariate analysis and structural modelling, we found that (1) masculinity and femininity were significantly correlated with each other; (2) masculinity and femininity were related negatively to depression, but only indirectly; and (3) self-esteem and locus of control were important and necessary mediators between gender-role traits and depression. Relationships between gender-role traits, self-esteem, locus of control and depression were further discussed and re-examined.