RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ANDROGYNY, SELF-ESTEEM, AND TRAIT COPING STYLE OF CHINESE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

Chinese university undergraduates' personality types were investigated from the perspective of androgyny as the ideal gender role type. Based on Bem's (1974) 4 gender role types, 434 undergraduates were classified as masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated. The relationships among personality type, trait coping style, and level of self-esteem were examined. Results showed that the students were mainly in 2 gender role types: androgynous and undifferentiated. Gender and grade had a significant impact on the distribution of gender role types. The androgynous group had the highest self-esteem level and tended to use positive coping strategies. Androgyny was assessed as an ideal gender role type, relative to the 3 other types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]