Sex-role orientation and work adaptation of male nurses

Three competing hypotheses regarding the influence of sex-role orientation on work-stress (pressure and strain at work) and work-attraction (work centrality and satisfaction) adaptation of 154 male nurses were contrasted. The findings reveal that even in a female-dominated profession, masculine-type male nurses were, on the whole, the best adapted type while the feminine-type male nurses were the least. The androgynous-type nurses, though ranking high in pressure and strain stemming from their work, nevertheless ranked highest in work satisfaction. In contrast, the undifferentiated were not stressed nor pressured at work, but they did not enjoy their work. These analyses were repeated for 54 female nurses. Among the female nurses no significant differences were found between the four sex role orientations, indicating that the differences found among the male nurses stemmed from the special situation in which a male nurse finds himself. It is suggested that change in the nature of the nursing profession into more "masculine" tasks also may partially explain the results.