Gender compatibility, gender role identities, emotional intelligence and alexithymia of tertiary students in Hong Kong

Abstract

The study aimed to determine how Hong Kong tertiary students’ gender compatibility and gender role identities predict their levels of alexithymia and whether such associations are mediated by their emotional intelligence level. Scales used: Gender Compatibility Scale, Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), Emotional Intelligence Scale-34 (EIS-34), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Sample number: 254, age 18 – 29, tertiary students studying in Hong Kong. The results revealed that an androgynous gender role identity negatively predicts alexithymia, and the prediction was mediated by emotional intelligence. Gender compatibility did not predict alexithymia, but a positive prediction was found without the mediation of emotional intelligence. Limitations and directions for future research studies were discussed.