The study aimed at exploring the connection that exists between the norms of masculinity and identity crisis amongst middle aged married men with a focus on the influence of occupational differences. The theories which directed the study are the hegemonic masculinity theory, gender role strain theory, and life span development theories. The research design used was the quantitative correlational. The study participants were married men who were aged between 35 and 50. The data collection tools that were used in the study include the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-22 and the Developmental Crisis Questionnaire-12. The findings revealed that there were moderate levels of masculinity norms and identity crisis in the participants. The results revealed that there was a negligible and non-significant relationship that existed between masculinity norms and identity crisis. The results revealed that masculinity norms did not predict identity crisis in the participants. There was a significant difference in identity crisis in the participants as revealed by the analysis of variance results. The results revealed that F (3, 240) = 4.72, p = .003. This shows that there was a significant difference in identity crisis in the participants. This study sheds light on identity crisis in middle adulthood, challenging the notion that masculinity norms contribute to it. Surprisingly, our findings show that masculinity norms don't predict identity crisis in this life stage. Instead, other factors come into play. Notably, we found significant differences in identity crisis experiences among men in middle adulthood. Index Terms - masculinity norms , identity crisis , middle age men.
R et al. (Thu,) studied this question.