Agency and communion: Military adjustment and gender-based personality traits

Does gender-personality among soldiers lead to better adjustment, defined in terms of psychological well-being, perceived combat effectiveness, and perceived social support, i.e. cohesion? In the current study, the contribution of gender-related personality, as measured by the Extended Personal Attributes Questionnaire (EPAQ), hostility towards women, as indicated by the Hostility Towards Women Scale and Acceptance of Women Scale, on combat readiness, horizontal cohesion and vertical cohesion were assessed. Findings indicate that well adapted soldiers endorse items relating to positive masculinity and positive femininity, as well as positive feelings toward working with women. Soldiers considered to be well adapted to the military were less likely to endorse items relating to negative masculinity, negative femininity and hostility towards women.