Paper Summary:

This paper examines and critiques the construct of codependency by exploring the extent to which stereotypically feminine characteristics are associated with codependency and related aspects of psychological distress and dysfunction. It explains that the definition of codependency by mental health professionals lacks a clear, categorical, standardized definition of the construct; codependency has never been thoroughly examined in a scientific and empirical manner that is methodologically and statistically sound.
This study further researches and characterizes the differences as well as the similarities among individuals identified as codependent in order to create a broader understanding of the features of this construct. The paper predicts that women possessing high levels of these stereotypically feminine traits will exhibit higher levels of codependency. In addition, it hypothesizes that these women will display more depression, more anxiety, less assertiveness, and have lower self-esteem than women who are less "feminine." The findings reveal that femininity is significantly and positively related to codependency, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and a lack of assertiveness, thus supporting all five hypotheses. It concludes that the codependency is related to femininity and pathology, and these factors must be considered by mental health professionals when assisting the codependent individual. A unique finding of this study is that of the variables studied, codependency, depression, and anxiety is most strongly linked to femininity.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Study Purpose
Importance of the Study
Research Hypotheses
Definitions
Review of the Literature
Gender-Role Identification
Codependency in Women
Popular Self-Help Books
Methodology
Overview of the Study
Participants
Materials and Measures
Procedures
Data Analysis
Results
Results Regarding Hypotheses
Summary
Discussion
Conclusions
Implications for Mental Health
Implications for Social Considerations
Limitations
Recommendations
References
Appendix 1:Informed Consent Letter
Appendix 2: Survey Instrument
Appendix 3: BEM Sex-Role Inventory
Appendix 4: Self-Esteem Scale
Appendix 5: Anxiety Scale
Appendix 6: Assertive Self-Report Inventory
Appendix 7: Beck Depression Inventory, SF
Appendix 8: Research Project
Appendix 9: Faculty Sign-off Form
Appendix 10: SIRB Application Cover Sheet

From the Paper:

"The goal of this investigation is to investigate the construct of "codependency." A literature review indicates that codependency is an imperfect construct, one that confounds traditional measures of femininity with judgments of varying degrees of pathology. The problem of classifying women's behavior as pathological is widespread in the field of psychology, as well as in the general public, and needs to be addressed. An assumption that feminine behavior is pathological automatically places women in a position of inferiority, which they must then make efforts to overcome. Recently, for example, the diagnosis of hysteria, which was formerly used to pathologize women, was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). The current research will investigate whether codependency is more closely related to certain personality traits than to behaviors that are defined as traditionally "feminine." "

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