Perceptions of sex-role stereotypes, self-concept, and nursing role ideal in Chinese nursing students.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relationship between sex-role stereotypes, self-concept and the requisite personality characteristics of an ideal nurse in a cohort of Hong Kong nursing students.


METHODS
To rate these concepts a measure of eight comprehensive dimensions of personality perception was administered to 177 nursing students, studying on preregistration and postregistration programs at a Hong Kong tertiary institution. Both male and female nursing students perceived an ideal nurse to possess a profile of traits including being high on the dimensions of emotional stability, application, intellect, helpfulness and restraint.


RESULTS
No significant difference between the self-ratings of the male and female students was found, indicating that male students had undergone a highly self-selective process when choosing nursing education under the influence of Chinese cultural stereotypical attitudes towards nursing. A typical Chinese nurse was rated as similar to the typical female in Chinese society by both male and female nursing students. A typical Chinese nurse was rated relatively low on the masculine dimensions of openness, extroversion and assertiveness. The self-ratings of male nursing students more closely approximated the ideal nurse than did the self-ratings of female nursing students.


CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions highlight implications for the recruitment and education of both male and female nursing students in Hong Kong society.
Holroyd
E A
EA
Department of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. eholroyd@cuhk.edu.hk
Bond
M H
MH
Chan
H Y
HY
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D009729:Nursing / Q000592:standards; D011287:Prejudice; D012649:Self Concept; D013240:Stereotyping; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*