Gender Role Conflict as a Mediator between Social Sensitivity and Depression in a Sample of Gay Men

Abstract

The current study examined the mediational impact of gender role conflict on the relationship between social sensitivity and depression in a sample of gay men. Participants were 162 self-identified gay men who responded to a collection of online questionnaires. Findings revealed that the combined effect of the subscales from the Gender Role Conflict Scale mediated the relationship between social sensitivity and depression. Specifically, the subscales of Restrictive Emotionality and Conflict Between Work and Family Relations were found to uniquely mediate this relationship. Results suggest that concerns gay men have in maintaining a masculine image may play an important role through which social sensitivity acts on the prediction of depression.