Sex Roles in Addiction: Defense or Deficit?

Abstract

Overly masculine, “macho” males and feminine, “seductive” females are found in clients addicted to alcohol and/or drugs. Contrary to expectations, on the Bern Sex-Role Inventory males (N = 60) rated themselves, in descending order, Undifferentiated, 38.5%; Feminine, 33%; Masculine, 17%; and Androgynous, 11.5%. Females (N = 36), more predictively, saw themselves as Feminine, 50%; Undifferentiated, 31%; Androgynous, 11%; and Masculine, 8%. Independent variables of age, income, marital status, severity of addiction, length of inpatient treatment, level of education, and parental marital status did not significantly affect the results. Extreme sex-role dress and behavior appear to be a defense against the overall damage resulting from the addictive disease rather than a contributor to or cause of the disease.