The mediating role of interpersonal curiosity in the association between adolescents' adherence to masculine stereotypes and perceived friendship quality
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22420105 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rachel Taffe (0009-0001-9014-7203, New York University, corresponding author), Niobe Way (0000-0002-7066-3884, New York University), N Zhong (New York University), Nathania B Zhong (Department of Applied Psychology New York University New York New York USA) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | e70221-e70221 |
| Publication date | 2026-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Research on Adolescence (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1050-8392 • E-ISSN: 1532-7795 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/jora.70221 |
| PMID | 42464909 |
| OpenAlex | W7169599252 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 28 |
While prior research has found that adolescents who adhere more strongly to masculine stereotypes (i.e., emotional stoicism, autonomy, and physical toughness) in their friendships tend to report lower quality friendships, the mechanism underlying this association remains unclear. Emerging theory suggests that adherence to such masculine stereotypes may be associated with reduced interpersonal curiosity, which could, in turn, relate to lower perceived friendship quality. This analysis investigates the mediating role of interpersonal curiosity in the association between adherence to masculine stereotypes and perceived friendship quality among a sample of 414 6th–9th graders in seven public schools across New York City (49.5% girls; 60.3% 7th‐grade students). Results from structural equation modeling indicated a significant mediating effect of interpersonal curiosity in the association between adherence to masculine stereotypes and perceived friendship quality. A moderated mediation analysis indicated the mediation of interpersonal curiosity held only for the boys. Implications for theory and research are discussed.
Association (psychology) · Curiosity · Friendship · Interpersonal communication · Interpersonal relationship · Mediation · Structural equation modeling · Education, Achievement, and Giftedness · Psychological and Educational Research Studies · Social and Intergroup Psychology
Deep Secrets
A Dual Identity Approach for Conceptualizing and Measuring Children's Gender Identity
Interpersonal Curiosity
We're Supposed to Look Like Girls, But Act Like Boys”
Associations between hegemonic masculine norms and academic outcomes among youth in China and the United States
Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family
Girls’ and boys’ problem talk
Interpersonal Curiosity and its Association With Social and Emotional Skills and Well-Being During Adolescence
Perspective mistaking
It doesn’t hurt to ask
Gender Stereotypes
The effects of age, gender, and gender role ideology on adolescents' social perspective-taking ability and tendency in friendships
Engendering Gendered Knowledge
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |