Assessing the Factor Structure of the Chinese Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to examine the factor structure and assess the reliability of the Chinese Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46 (CCMNI-46). Using a cohort of 254 Hong Kong-born Chinese males, scale reliability determination involved the internal consistencies of the entire instrument. Ages of respondents ranged from 18 to 81 years (M = 38.05; SD = 17.3). Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the psychometric properties of the CCMNI-46, thus confirming the multidimensional structure of the CMNI-46 and the replicability of the CMNI using a Hong Kong Chinese sample. All items loaded onto the corresponding factor with the exception of one item from the emotional control subscale. The overall reliability of the CCMNI-46 was lower than previous Western studies and may well reflect the subtle diversity of masculinity across cultures. The findings offered psychometric support for use of the CCMNI-46 in research and practice regarding Hong Kong Chinese masculinity. The CCMNI-46 provides a useful template for the operationalization of masculine norms in Chinese society.

Keywords:

• masculinity
• conformity to masculine norms
• Chinese
• Hong Kong

Notes

¹Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese are the two standard sets of Chinese characters of the contemporary written form of the Chinese language. Whereas Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, Simplified Chinese is officially used in Mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia.