EFFECTS OF GENDER-TYPED TASKS AND GENDER-ROLES ON CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY

This study explored the effects of gender-typing of a task on cardiovascular reactivity among 60 men and 58 women, who were preselected on the basis of their ''masculinity'' and ''femininity'' scores on the Personal Attribute Questionnaire (PAQ; Spence & Helmreich, 1978). Both gender-role orientation and gender-typing of the task (but not sex of participant) accounted for a significant amount of variance in systolic blood pressure (SEP) and heart rate (HR) reactivity. Femininity scores predicted increases in SEP responses to the task in the entire sample. HR responses were determined by a significant interaction of sex of participant, a ''feminine'' gender-role orientation, and gender-typing of the task. Among men, gender-typing of task interacted with gender-role orientation: men whose personality did not fit the situation (e.g., men scoring high on ''femininity'' who worked on a male-typed task) exhibited elevated HR reactivity. There were no significant effects for HR reactivity among women. These findings underscore the role of psychosocial factors as determinants of SBP and HR responses, especially among men.