1. [Cynicism: a differential coping strategy as a function of gender]
- Author
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Magdalena, Escamilla-Quintal, Isabel, Rodríguez-Molina, José M, Peiró, and Inés, Tomás Marco
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Adaptation, Psychological ,Humans ,Female ,Middle Aged ,Personality - Abstract
The main objective of the present study is to analyse the role of cynicism as a coping strategy in the process of burnout, considering gender as a key variable in this process. The sample comprised 555 teachers from Spanish primary and secondary schools. A two-wave panel study was carried out: data were gathered during the first term and again during the third and last term of the academic year. Several t-tests for independent samples and moderated hierarchical regression analysis were carried out. Results showed that women have a higher level of exhaustion than men, whereas men have a higher level of cynicism than women. Furthermore, cynicism has a direct and positive effect on exhaustion for women. In the case of men, cynicism is not an effective coping strategy but it has some buffering effect on exhaustion. Thus, a high level of cynicism seems to lead to a lower increase of exhaustion. Results, contributions, and limitations of the present study are discussed.
- Published
- 2008