| Abstract: | The relationship between gender role identityand caregiving experience was explored in a sample ofelderly widowed men. A total of 200 males (82.5%Caucasian) were interviewed 12 to 16 months after the death of their wives. Results indicated thatmen who had served as caregivers scored higher on themasculine dimension of the Bem Sex Role Inventory, andmasculinity was a significant predictor of well-being for both caregivers and noncaregivers.Following a cognitive dissonance model (Hirsch, 1996),the results do not support the adoption of feminine orandrogynous ideals as a way of coping with this life demand. Instead, the results add to the growingbody of work in support of a masculine model ofwell-being. |
