Conforming to certain feminine norms, such as modesty, thinness, and appearance, is associated with increased psychological distress among college women, according to research published in Current Psychology.
College women face unique stressors, including adapting to a new environment, developing new social networks, and managing academic pressures, which can increase their vulnerability to psychological distress. Previous studies have highlighted the role of gender norms—expectations of behavior for men and women—as a critical factor that can exacerbate mental health issues in this population. To better understand these associations, Derek Kenji Iwamoto and colleagues examined the impact of conformity to feminine norms on psychological distress among college women.
While much of the previous research has predominantly focused on White women, the present study fills a gap by exploring how these norms affect a diverse group of college women, including a large sample of Asian American participants. The researchers were motivated by findings that gender norms are not monolithic but multidimensional, with different norms potentially exerting varying effects on psychological well-being.
The study recruited 1,700 female undergraduate students from a large public university in Southern California, with an average age of ~20 years. The sample was predominantly Asian American (76.8%), with the remaining participants identifying as White (23.2%).
Participants completed two key measures: the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory-45 (CFNI-45) and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). The CFNI-45 is a 45-item questionnaire designed to assess adherence to nine distinct feminine norms, including Sweet and Nice, Relationship, Thinness, Modesty, Domestic, Care for Children, Romantic Relationship, Sexual Fidelity, and Invest in Appearance.
Participants indicated their level of agreement with statements related to these norms on a 4-point scale. The K10 is a 10-item scale that measures psychological distress by assessing symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness experienced over the past month. Participants rated the frequency of these symptoms on a scale from “none of the time” to “all of the time.”
The researchers found that women who felt compelled to maintain a modest demeanor, strive for a thin physique, and focus on their physical appearance (i.e., conformity to Modesty, Thinness, and Invest in Appearance), reported experiencing more psychological distress. Conversely, women who endorsed norms that emphasize the importance of building relationships and caring for others (i.e., Relationship and Care for Children) tended to report lower levels of psychological distress.
Other feminine norms, such as Domestic, Romantic Relationship, Sexual Fidelity, and Sweet and Nice, did not show a significant relationship with psychological distress. This suggests that not all feminine norms have a direct impact on mental health outcomes. Additionally, older students tended to report less psychological distress than their younger counterparts, which may reflect the possibility that older students have developed more effective coping strategies or have adapted better to the college environment.
Overall, the results of this study underscore the importance of understanding the multifaceted nature of feminine norms and their distinct roles in shaping psychological distress among college women. It appears that while some norms may contribute to increased distress, others may serve as protective factors.
Notably, this study was conducted at a single university with a unique demographic composition, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations or educational contexts.
The research, “Why conform?: The implications of conformity to feminine norms on psychological distress among college women,” was authored by Derek Kenji Iwamoto, Thomas P. Le, Lauren Clinton, Margaux Grivel, and Elena Lucaine.