Why conform?: The implications of conformity to feminine norms on psychological distress among college women

A burgeoning body of research suggests that nuanced sociocultural factors influence college women’s health. Feminine norms, or the beliefs and expectations of what it means to be a woman, is one important factor that may help explain psychological distress. Emerging research has found that conformity to feminine norms is significantly associated with several health outcomes including substance use and eating disorder symptomatology. Guided by the gender role strain paradigm, we examined the role of conformity to feminine norms on psychological distress among college women. Data was collected from 1,700 female undergraduate women attending one university in Southern California with a mean age of 20.18. The sample consisted of 76.8% Asian American women and 23.2% white women. We conducted regression analyses to examine the association between nine feminine norms (i.e., Sweet and Nice, Relationship, Thinness, Modesty, Domestic, Care for Children, Romantic Relationship, Sexual Fidelity, and Invest in Appearance) and psychological distress. Findings revealed that the feminine norms of Modesty, Appearance and Thinness were positively associated with psychological distress, while age, Children, and Relationship decreased risk of distress. This study provides evidence of the nuanced ways in which conformity to feminine norms is associated with psychological distress. The results of this study highlight how researchers and practitioners may consider examining how specific feminine norms are associated with psychological distress instead of homogenizing all aspects of femininity.