Depression as a function of expressiveness/instrumentality among nurses

In this study the author investigated the relationship of depression to sex role orientation in women employed in a traditional female occupation. The specific purpose of the study was to assess whether women employed in nursing would be more likely to be expressive (feminine/sex typed) in their sex role orientation and to evaluate the degree of depression among women with high levels of expressive (feminine/sex-typed) characteristics. Results supported the hypothesis that nurses who subscribed to a traditional feminine role (feminine sex typing) had a greater vulnerability to depression. However, their rate of depression was significantly less than that found among women in general.