Indirect self-destructiveness and psychological gender

Objective: Behaviours causing harm to a subject are generally called self-destructive behaviours. For some time now direct/acute self-destructiveness and indirect/chronic self-destructiveness have been distinguished. Human activity is determined to a large degree by not only biological (somatic) sex but also psychological gender. The aim of the study was to examine relationships between indirect self-destructiveness and types of psychological gender.

Methods: 558 individuals (399 females and 159 males) aged 19-25 were studied (mean age: 22.6). The age of the females ranged from 19 to 24 (mean age: 22.4) and of the males - from 19 to 25 (mean age: 22.8). In order to examine the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness, the Polish version of the Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale by Kelley (CS-DS), as adapted by Suchańska, was applied. The psychological gender was examined by means of the Polish version of the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) by Bem, as adapted by Kuczyńska.

Results: The highest scores on indirect self-destructiveness were achieved by non-sex-typed individuals, lower- by sex-typed and cross-sex-typed individuals (very similar scores). In females, indirect self-destructiveness positively correlates with the masculinity scale, whereas in males, it negatively correlates with the femininity scale.

Conclusions: Biological sex and psychological gender are qualitative variables that differentiate the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness. Psychological gender opposite to biological sex is of significance to the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness. The psychological dimension of femininity protects against indirect self-destructiveness, while the psychological dimension of masculinity predisposes to it.