Husbands' Gender Role Conflict and Withdrawal During Marital Interaction

Husbands’ gender role conflict is related to wives’ mental and marital adjustment. Husbands’ withdrawal is also associated with wives’ dysphoria and marital adjustment. This study investigated whether husbands’ withdrawal is related to their gender role conflict. The study also examined whether withdrawal moderates the relationship between husbands’ gender role conflict and wives’ dysphoria and marital adjustment. 150 married couples participated in 10-minute marital interactions that were videotaped and coded for each spouse’s demand/withdraw behavior. Other constructs of interest were assessed via self-report. Two aspects of gender role conflict – restricted emotionality and restricted affectionate behavior between men – were associated with husbands’ withdrawal. Husbands’ withdrawal also moderated the association between gender role conflict and wives’ marital adjustment. Implications of results are discussed.