Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role
Introduction: Masculinity and femininity constitute the gender role construct into the general concept of sexual identity. Aim: To investigate the relationships of attachment style, sexual orientation and biological sex with the gender role. Methods: A convenience sample of 344 subjects (females = 2...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Sexual Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116119301837 |
| _version_ | 1797708667574812672 |
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| author | Giacomo Ciocca, PsyD, PhD Selene Zauri, PsyD Erika Limoncin, PsyD, PhD Daniele Mollaioli, PsyD, PhD Laura D’Antuono, PsyD, PhD Eleonora Carosa, MD, PhD Filippo M. Nimbi, PsyD, PhD Chiara Simonelli, PsyD Giancarlo Balercia, MD Yacov Reisman, MD Emmanuele A. Jannini, MD |
| author_facet | Giacomo Ciocca, PsyD, PhD Selene Zauri, PsyD Erika Limoncin, PsyD, PhD Daniele Mollaioli, PsyD, PhD Laura D’Antuono, PsyD, PhD Eleonora Carosa, MD, PhD Filippo M. Nimbi, PsyD, PhD Chiara Simonelli, PsyD Giancarlo Balercia, MD Yacov Reisman, MD Emmanuele A. Jannini, MD |
| author_sort | Giacomo Ciocca, PsyD, PhD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Masculinity and femininity constitute the gender role construct into the general concept of sexual identity. Aim: To investigate the relationships of attachment style, sexual orientation and biological sex with the gender role. Methods: A convenience sample of 344 subjects (females = 207; males = 137) was recruited. Main Outcome Measures: The Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Kinsey Scale, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory assessed, respectively, attachment styles, sexual orientation, and masculinity/femininity was administered. Results: Regression analysis revealed that the confidence scale of the ASQ (secure attachment) and relationship as secondary scale of ASQ (insecure/dismissing attachment) have a predictive role toward a higher score of masculinity (β = 0.201; P = .000 and β = 0.208; P = .000, respectively), whereas the need of approval scale of the ASQ (insecure/fearful-preoccupied attachment) shows a reverse association on it (β = −0.228; P = .001). Moreover, to be a male is predictive for masculinity (β = 0.196; P = .000). Also, femininity is predicted by the confidence (β = 0.173; P = .002) and the need of approval (β = 0.151; P = .03) scales of ASQ. Instead, the relationship as secondary scale of ASQ is negatively related to femininity (β = −0.198; P = .0001). No association between non-heterosexual orientation and gender role was found. Clinical Implications: A better knowledge of links between relational patterns and gender roles for assessment and anamnesis phases in sexual medicine. Strengths & Limitations: This is the first study considering sexual orientation and biological sex in the relationship between attachment styles and gender role. The main limitation is the use of self-reported psychometric tests. Conclusion: Our data indicate that a secure attachment is related to both masculinity and femininity. On the contrary, different and reverse aspects of insecure attachment style characterize masculinity and femininity. Masculinity is mostly linked to insecure/dismissing attachment, whereas femininity is linked to insecure/fearful-preoccupied attachment. Moreover, although being male is a further element in support of masculinity, sexual orientation is not associated with gender role.Ciocca G, Zauri S, Limoncin E, et al. Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships with Gender Role. Sex Med. 2019;8:76–83. Key Words: Attachment Style, Gender Role, Sexual Orientation, Biological Sex |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:25:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5763ecdd56ea494daec9d33f95385d2c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-1161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:25:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-5763ecdd56ea494daec9d33f95385d2c2023-09-03T01:55:09ZengOxford University PressSexual Medicine2050-11612020-03-01817683Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender RoleGiacomo Ciocca, PsyD, PhD0Selene Zauri, PsyD1Erika Limoncin, PsyD, PhD2Daniele Mollaioli, PsyD, PhD3Laura D’Antuono, PsyD, PhD4Eleonora Carosa, MD, PhD5Filippo M. Nimbi, PsyD, PhD6Chiara Simonelli, PsyD7Giancarlo Balercia, MD8Yacov Reisman, MD9Emmanuele A. Jannini, MD10Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyChair in Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, ItalyChair in Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, ItalyChair in Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, ItalyIndependent Researcher, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, ItalyDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyDivision of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Umberto I Hospital, Ancona, ItalyZiekenhuis Amstelland, Department of Urology, Amstelveen, The NetherlandsChair in Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Corresponding Author: Emmanuele A. Jannini, MD, Chair in Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00131 Roma, Italy. Tel: +39 06 72596613; Fax: +39 0862 433523Introduction: Masculinity and femininity constitute the gender role construct into the general concept of sexual identity. Aim: To investigate the relationships of attachment style, sexual orientation and biological sex with the gender role. Methods: A convenience sample of 344 subjects (females = 207; males = 137) was recruited. Main Outcome Measures: The Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Kinsey Scale, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory assessed, respectively, attachment styles, sexual orientation, and masculinity/femininity was administered. Results: Regression analysis revealed that the confidence scale of the ASQ (secure attachment) and relationship as secondary scale of ASQ (insecure/dismissing attachment) have a predictive role toward a higher score of masculinity (β = 0.201; P = .000 and β = 0.208; P = .000, respectively), whereas the need of approval scale of the ASQ (insecure/fearful-preoccupied attachment) shows a reverse association on it (β = −0.228; P = .001). Moreover, to be a male is predictive for masculinity (β = 0.196; P = .000). Also, femininity is predicted by the confidence (β = 0.173; P = .002) and the need of approval (β = 0.151; P = .03) scales of ASQ. Instead, the relationship as secondary scale of ASQ is negatively related to femininity (β = −0.198; P = .0001). No association between non-heterosexual orientation and gender role was found. Clinical Implications: A better knowledge of links between relational patterns and gender roles for assessment and anamnesis phases in sexual medicine. Strengths & Limitations: This is the first study considering sexual orientation and biological sex in the relationship between attachment styles and gender role. The main limitation is the use of self-reported psychometric tests. Conclusion: Our data indicate that a secure attachment is related to both masculinity and femininity. On the contrary, different and reverse aspects of insecure attachment style characterize masculinity and femininity. Masculinity is mostly linked to insecure/dismissing attachment, whereas femininity is linked to insecure/fearful-preoccupied attachment. Moreover, although being male is a further element in support of masculinity, sexual orientation is not associated with gender role.Ciocca G, Zauri S, Limoncin E, et al. Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships with Gender Role. Sex Med. 2019;8:76–83. Key Words: Attachment Style, Gender Role, Sexual Orientation, Biological Sexhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116119301837 |
| spellingShingle | Giacomo Ciocca, PsyD, PhD Selene Zauri, PsyD Erika Limoncin, PsyD, PhD Daniele Mollaioli, PsyD, PhD Laura D’Antuono, PsyD, PhD Eleonora Carosa, MD, PhD Filippo M. Nimbi, PsyD, PhD Chiara Simonelli, PsyD Giancarlo Balercia, MD Yacov Reisman, MD Emmanuele A. Jannini, MD Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role Sexual Medicine |
| title | Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role |
| title_full | Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role |
| title_fullStr | Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role |
| title_short | Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role |
| title_sort | attachment style sexual orientation and biological sex in their relationships with gender role |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116119301837 |
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