Gender Differences in Communication Values 1
Gender Differences in the Communication Values of Mature Adults
Abstract
Contrary to the “different cultures” view of men’s and women’s communication, prior
research on communication values has found only small sex differences in the value placed on
various affective and instrumental skills. However, this research has been criticized because
college students’ values may not reflect those of older individuals, and because it has failed to
examine the influence of psychological gender (femininity and masculinity). In the current
study, 153 men and 151 women over the age of 40 completed the Communication Functions
Questionnaire (a measure of value for eight communication skills), as well as the Bem Sex Role
Inventory (a measure of femininity and masculinity). Consistent with past research, sex
differences in communication values were few and small. Femininity and masculinity were
positively associated with most communication values, and mediated most of the observed sex
differences.