Gender, identity, and suicidality: A study of adolescents in Macau

The primary concern of this study is the differences in suicidality between the two sexes. It attempts to explore the relationship between gender identity formation and suicidality in adolescence. It sets out to argue that sex difference in suicidality is associated with gender identity formation and orientation. The central argument is that female adolescents are more suicidal than male adolescents in terms of serious ideation as well as attempts. Their suicidality can be accounted for by the nature of feminine identity formation. Moreover, by bringing in the concept of psychological androgyny, which itself shows to be a better alternative of gender role orientation, this study further examines the relationship between gender, androgyny, and suicidality in adolescents.;Moreover, this study attempts to trace the formation process of gender identity to a macro-sociological dimension: power structure of the family. This study argues that different family power structures have causal impact on the adolescents' gender role orientation and identity formation, with a special focus on androgynous orientation.;A sample survey research was conducted in Macau. The sample consisted of 1085 secondary school students. Results support that female adolescents are significantly having higher tendencies toward suicide. Girls are also more likely to commit suicide attempts.;The findings also validate the assumption that androgyny as a better-integrated, well-adjusted alternative gender role orientation has significant causal effect on self acceptance, self esteem, and suicidal tendency. While the beneficial effect of an androgynous orientation on suicidal tendency is significant for adolescents of both sexes, it is more evident in the female group. However, female adolescents on average are less androgynous than male adolescents.;Furthermore, while the development of an androgynous orientation is positively associated with family context, it favors a more liberal and balanced distribution of power between husband and wife. While a more egalitarian family environment is found to be a more favorable condition for adolescents to develop an androgynous orientation, this effect is once again more evident for female adolescents than for male adolescents. The predominance of patriarchy in Chinese families and its profound impact of gender identity formation is highlighted. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are finally discussed.