Abstract
A battery of instruments dealing with job stress and satisfaction and social role traits was administered to 78 female special educators. Social role orientation (instrumental, expressive, balanced, undifferentiated), as measured by a modified version of the Bem Sex Role Inventory, was determined for each teacher. The relationship between social role orientation and job stress and satisfaction was examined. Shifts in teachers' social role composition from off the job to on the job were examined regarding four indices of stress and satisfaction. A balanced social role orientation on the job was associated with higher levels of job satisfaction and lower levels of job stress. Higher levels of instrumentality on the job and off the job and higher levels of expressivity on the job and off the job were associated with higher levels of personal accomplishment and lower levels of depersonalization.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Antill, J. K., & Russell, G. (1982). The factor structure of the Bem Sex Role Inventory: Method and sample comparisons. Australian Journal of Psychology, 34, 183–193.
Bartol, K., & Wortman, M. (1975). Male vs. female leaders. Effects of perceived leader behavior and satisfaction in a hospital. Personnel Psychology, 28, 533–547.
Bassoff, E. S., & Glass, G. V. (1982). The relationship between sex roles and mental health: A meta-analysis of twenty six studies. The Counseling Psychologist, 10, 105–112.
Bem, S. L. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 155–162.
Bem, S. L. (1975). Sex role adaptability: One consequence of psychological androgyny. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 634–643.
Bem, S. L., & Lenney, E. (1976). Sex-typing and the avoidance of cross-sex behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 33, 48–54.
Bem, S. L., Martyna, W., & Watson, C. (1976). Sex-typing and androgyny: Further explorations of the expressive domain. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 1016–1023.
Berzins, J. I., Welling, M. A., & Wetter, R. E. (1978). A new measure of psychological androgyny based on the Personality Research Form. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 126–138.
Bledsoe, J. C. (1983). Factorial validity of the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 56, 55–58.
Calabrese, R. L., & Anderson, R. E. (1986). The public school, a source of stress and alienation among female teachers. Urban Education, 21, 30–41.
Carter, D. B. (1985). Relationships between cognitive flexibility and sex-role orientation in young adults. Psychological Reports, 57, 763–766.
Chapman, D., & Lowther, M. (1982). Teachers' satisfaction with teaching. Journal of Educational Research, 75, 241–247.
Chow, E. N. (1987). The influence of sex-role identity and occupational attainment on the psychological well-being of Asian American women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 11, 69–82.
Etzion, D., & Pines, A. (1986). Sex and culture in burnout and coping among human service professionals: A social psychologist perspective. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 17, 191–209.
Farber, B., & Heifetz, L. J. (1981). The satisfaction and stresses of psychotherapeutic work: A factor analytic study. Professional Psychology, 12, 621–630.
Fry, K., & Greenfeld, S. (1980). An examination of attitudinal differences between policewomen and policemen. Journal of Applied Psychology, 65, 123–126.
Furnham, A., & Goddard, L. (1986). Sex differences in job satisfaction. Psychologia, 29, 132–146.
Gaudreau, P. (1977). Factor analysis of the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 299–302.
Glazer, C. A., & Duzek, J. B. (1985). The relationship between sex-role orientation and resolution of Ericksonian developmental crises. Sex Roles, 13, 653–661.
Greenglass, E. R., & Burke, R. J. (1988). Work and family precursors of burnout in teachers: Sex differences. Sex Roles, 18, 215–229.
Heifetz, L. J., Knoll, J. A., Olson, D., & Salon, R. S. (1990). Refining the Bem Sex Role Inventory as a measure of adaptive flexibility among human-service providers. Unpublished manuscript.
Hoppock, R. (1935). Job satisfaction. New York: Harper & Brothers.
Jones, W. H., Chernovetz, M. E. O., & Hansson, R. O. (1978). The enigma of androgyny: Differential implications for males and females? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 298–313.
Kahill, S. (1986). Relationship of burnout among professional psychologists to professional expectations and social support. Psychological Reports, 59, 1034–1051.
Kalekin-Fishman, D. (1986). Burnout or alienation? A context specific study of occupational fatigue among secondary school teachers. Journal of Research and Development in Education, 19, 24–34.
Kalin, R., & Grant, B. (1981). Sex differences in employment experiences of 1976 Canadian graduates in psychology. Canadian Psychologist, 22, 238–246.
Lee, A. G., & Scheurer, V. L. (1983). Psychological androgyny and aspects of self image in women and men. Sex Roles, 9, 289–306.
Lemkau, J. P., Rafferty, J. P., Purdy, R. R., & Rudisill, J. R. (1987). Sex role stress and job burnout among family practice physicians. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 31, 81–90.
Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. E. (1981). Maslach Burnout Inventory, Research Edition. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
McNeely, R. L. (1986). Gender and job satisfaction: Similarities and differences in a comprehensive human services department. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 13, 27–33.
McNeely, R. L. (1988). Age and job satisfaction in human service employment. The Gerontologist, 28, 163–168.
Meadow, K. P. (1981). Burnout in professionals working with deaf children. American Annals of the Deaf, 13–21.
Moreland, J. R., Gualanick, N., Montague, E. K., & Harren, V. A. (1978). Some psychometric properties of the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Applied Psychological Measurement, 2, 249–256.
Pedhazur, E. J., & Tetenbaum, T. J.. (1979). Bem Sex Role Inventory: A theoretical and methodological critique. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 996–1016.
Penn, M., Romano, J. L., & Foat, D. (1988). The relationship between job satisfaction and burnout: A study of human service professionals. Administration in Mental Health, 15, 157–165.
Rottier, J., Kelly, W., & Tomhave, W. K. (1983). Teacher burnout—small and rural school style. Education, 104, 72–79.
Schwab, R., & Iwanicki, E. (1982). Who are our burned out teachers? Educational Research Quarterly, 7, 5–16.
Shichman, S., & Cooper, E. (1984). Life satisfaction and sex-role concept. Sex Roles, 11, 227–240.
Silvern, L. E., & Ryan, V. L. (1979). Self-rated adjustment and sex typing on the Bem Sex Role Inventory: Is masculinity the primary predictor of adjustment? Sex Roles, 5, 739–763.
Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. (1980). Masculine instrumentality and feminine expressiveness: Their relationship with sex role attitudes and behaviors. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 5, 147–163.
Streepy, J. (1981). Direct-service providers and burnout. Social Casework, 62, 352–361.
Taylor, M. C., & Hall, J. A. (1982). Psychological androgyny: Theories, methods, and conclusions. Psychological Bulletin, 92, 347–366.
Thompson, J. (1980). Burnout in group home houseparents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 710–714.
Whitley, B. E. (1983). Sex role orientation and self esteem: A critical meta-analytic review. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 765–778.
Worell, J. (1978). Sex roles and psychological well being: Perspectives on methodology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 777–791.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eichinger, J., Heifetz, L.J. & Ingraham, C. Situational shifts in sex role orientation: Correlates of work satisfaction and burnout among women in special education. Sex Roles 25, 425–440 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292532
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292532