title: The influence of gender role on the prediction of antisocial behaviour and somatization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has demonstrated a sex-differentiated relationship between antisocial behaviour and somatization. One explanation posited is that societal expectations about male and female behaviour may influence a sex-differentiated expression of a common diathesis, but this idea has not been directly tested.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study examined the potential contribution of gender role in the prediction of antisocial and somatic symptomatology, controlling for biological sex, impulsivity and negative affect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Linear regression was used to examine the influence of gender role on somatic and antisocial symptomatology. Path analysis was used to examine whether relationships among these variables differed significantly for men and women. Participants were 349 undergraduate students in southeastern USA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Masculine gender role was positively related to antisocial behaviour, while feminine gender role was negatively related to antisocial behaviour. Gender role did not predict somatization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender role may be important to the expression of antisocial behaviour, but does not influence somatic symptoms. Current findings underscore the need to consider that observed sex differences in antisocial behaviour might actually be affected by gender role, and highlight the importance of considering societal expectations of male and female behaviour when examining apparent sex differences in behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77230-1402, USA. ycastro1@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Yessenia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Joyce L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: Joye C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Anestis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015144:Southeastern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult