Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Barton, Michelle

Keywords

Gender, Children, Health, Development

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

There is considerable evidence of a gender difference in health among adolescents and adults, however there is a lack of data surrounding the development of these disparities in children. In addition to gender, research in assertiveness shows clear associations with health, but the literature is unclear how gender and assertiveness interact with one another (Sarkova et.al., 2013). The current study sought to fill the gap through exploratory research into children’s assertiveness skills and self-reported health outcomes and by examining sex differences in assertiveness skills when gender socialization, measured by child’s perceptions of parent and peer pressure to conform to a gender identity, is considered. A sample of 9 boys and 8 girls completed three surveys assessing health, assertiveness skills, and gender socialization. Parents of each child also completed a corresponding survey in regards to their child’s health. Overall, results were in partial support of the hypothesis that factors of assertiveness and child’s health were correlated. Gender and age differences within self-reported health were not found, likely due to the restricted range of data. However, relations between assertiveness and gender yielded a more complicated picture. Associations between gender socialization, assertiveness, and health will be discussed, as well as implications for future research.

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