Self-Monitoring and Life Satisfaction of Individuals With Traditional and Nontraditional Sexual Orientations

Our previous work found that high self-monitoring enhanced the job effectiveness of individuals in gender-nontraditional occupations such as men in nursing and women in management. This study tested whether self-monitoring would enhance the life satisfaction of individuals with nontraditional sexual orientations: lesbians and gay men. The revised Self-monitoring Scale and the Life Satisfaction Index were completed by 132 gay and lesbian individuals and by 137 heterosexuals. Moderated regressions indicated self-monitoring was significantly related to life satisfaction of all individuals but there was no interaction with sexual orientation. Significant interactions between self-monitoring, gender, and relationship status indicated self-monitoring Factor A, Ability to Modify Self-Presentation, bolstered the life satisfaction of all women who were not in relationships whereas both Factors A, and Factor B, Sensitivity to the Expressive Behavior of Others, bolstered the life satisfaction of all women in relationships. There were no significant interactions with sexual orientation in the regressions. Regardless of sexual orientation, women had higher life satisfaction scores than men. The failure of the principal hypothesis suggests that the previously identified enhancement effect of self-monitoring may be limited to public occupational roles where social skills of impression management are requisite to effective job performance. The enhancement effect may not extend to private aspects of personal identity.