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Clothing Symbolism and the Changing Role of Nurses
Author(s) -
Lafferty Helen K.,
Dickey Lois E.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
home economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 0046-7774
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x8000800408
Subject(s) - autonomy , clothing , socialization , psychology , nursing , social psychology , medicine , political science , law
Nurses' use of and attitudes toward traditional role symbols and their attitudes toward nurse autonomy and rejection of traditional role limitations were investigated. The sample consisted of 275 staff‐level registered nurses randomly selected from five Ohio and five Massachusetts general hospitals. The hypothesis that there would be an association between frequency of cap‐wearing and attitudes toward role symbols was accepted (p < .001). The hypothesis that nurses who expressed favorable attitudes toward role symbols would express unfavorable attitudes toward nurse autonomy and rejection of traditional role limitations, and that nurses who expressed unfavorable attitudes toward role symbols would express favorable attitudes toward nurse autonomy and rejection of traditional role limitations was accepted (p < .001). The type of professional socialization and variables related to setting in which the nurse role is enacted are factors related to nurses' attitudes toward traditional role symbols.