In recent years, the interplay between societal norms, personality psychology, and gender roles has garnered significant academic interest, particularly within cultures where traditional expectations remain deeply embedded. A recent groundbreaking study by Helou and Ayoub, published in BMC Psychology, delves into these dynamics in the Lebanese context, shedding light on how traditional gender-role attitudes intersect with individual personality traits to influence preferences regarding the stay-at-home mother role. This research offers not only an intricate psychological perspective but also a culturally nuanced examination of family dynamics in Lebanon, a country where historical, social, and economic factors create a unique backdrop for gender role negotiation.
The study navigates the complex terrain of traditional gender-role attitudes, which often prescribe distinct responsibilities and behaviors based on sex. Such attitudes have long been embedded in societal frameworks worldwide but manifest in diverse forms and intensities across different cultures. Lebanon, with its blend of modernity and entrenched social conventions, provides an ideal setting to explore these traditional attitudes, especially in the domain of motherhood and household labor division. Helou and Ayoub’s work focuses on how these societal prescriptions affect women’s personal preferences about staying home to manage their households versus engaging in external employment.
At its core, the research expands on the premise that adherence to traditional gender norms does not function in isolation but is closely intertwined with personality predispositions. Personality psychology has established frameworks to describe consistent patterns in behavior, thought, and emotion, commonly captured through models such as the Big Five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. By integrating these personality dimensions, Helou and Ayoub provide a nuanced understanding of why certain women might align more closely with traditional roles while others may resist or reinterpret these expectations.
The methodology employed in the study involved rigorous psychometric assessments combined with sociocultural surveys tailored carefully to the Lebanese demographic. Participants were evaluated for their endorsement of traditional gender norms and their personality traits using validated scales. The researchers then measured preferences regarding the stay-at-home mother role—a critical indicator of how these combined factors manifest in personal life choices and attitudes toward maternal responsibilities.
One of the most compelling findings reveals that personality traits such as high conscientiousness and agreeableness positively correlate with a stronger preference for the stay-at-home mother role. This suggests that women with tendencies toward organization, dutifulness, and nurturing social behavior are more likely to embrace traditional maternal roles, resonating with socially prescribed expectations. Conversely, traits linked to openness and extraversion appear to lessen the inclination toward exclusively embracing stay-at-home motherhood, indicating a desire for personal and professional self-expression beyond traditional confines.
The researchers also explored the bidirectional nature of these relationships. It is not merely personality shaping attitudes; cultural conditioning in Lebanon often reinforces traditional expectations, which can in turn modulate personality expression or the subjective valuation of certain personality traits. For example, a woman high in openness may downplay this trait in household contexts if social pressures favor conformity, illustrating the intricate dance between individual disposition and societal norms.
Beyond individual psychology, the study contextualizes its insights within Lebanon’s socio-economic transformations. The country has witnessed increasing female participation in the labor force, rising educational attainment among women, and shifting family structures. Yet despite these advances, cultural traditions regarding motherhood and domesticity remain influential. Helou and Ayoub argue that this juxtaposition creates internal conflicts for many women, who must reconcile evolving personal ambitions with entrenched social expectations, a process deeply influenced by their personality makeup.
The implications of this research extend to policy, counseling, and feminist scholarship. Understanding how personality and culture jointly influence women’s role preferences can guide more culturally sensitive approaches to supporting women’s aspirations. For instance, workplace policies accommodating motherhood-related choices or mental health initiatives addressing identity conflicts may benefit from acknowledging these psychological and cultural intersections.
Furthermore, the study contributes to global debates on gender roles by providing a non-Western perspective that challenges assumptions often drawn from Eurocentric feminist theories. The Lebanese example underscores that the negotiation of gendered expectations is not a binary confrontation between tradition and modernity but a complex spectrum influenced by both internal psychological factors and external cultural scripts.
Helou and Ayoub’s conclusions emphasize that promoting gender equity requires going beyond surface-level sociopolitical initiatives to engage with the rich, often silent psychological undercurrents driving women’s lived experiences. Recognizing the diversity of women’s attitudes shaped by their personality profiles enables more tailored, impactful advocacy and support systems.
This research also invites future investigations into how evolving digital media and globalization might further influence the intersection of personality and gender-role attitudes in Lebanon and similar societies. As exposure to alternative narratives and lifestyles increases, the dynamic interplay between stable personality traits and malleable cultural expectations could reveal new pathways for redefining motherhood and female identity.
Critically, the study’s methodological rigor, including a robust sample size and the use of culturally adapted instruments, lends strong validity to its findings. The authors carefully controlled for variables such as socioeconomic status, education, and urban versus rural residence, ensuring that the observed associations specifically related to gender attitudes and personality were not confounded by extraneous factors.
Moreover, the research highlights the importance of psychological flexibility in navigating gender-role conflicts. Women exhibiting higher adaptability and stress resilience may negotiate traditional and modern expectations more fluidly, indicating possible intervention points for empowerment programs.
In summary, Helou and Ayoub’s investigation paints a rich tableau of how traditional gender-role attitudes and individual personality traits converge to shape preference for the stay-at-home mother role in Lebanon. Their work showcases the complexity of gender role formation, emphasizing the necessity of contextual, psychological, and cultural sensitivity in both research and practical applications aiming to enhance women’s autonomy and well-being.
As societies worldwide continue grappling with questions of gender equality and role distribution, this study from Lebanon provides a timely and critical reminder: deeply rooted cultural attitudes and individual psychological factors profoundly influence women’s choices and identities. Only by acknowledging and integrating these multifaceted influences can meaningful strides toward gender justice be achieved.
Subject of Research: Relations between traditional gender-role attitudes, personality traits, and preference for the stay-at-home mother role in Lebanon.
Article Title: Relations between traditional gender-role attitudes, personality traits, and preference for the stay-at-home mother role in Lebanon.
Article References:
Helou, L.E., Ayoub, M. Relations between traditional gender-role attitudes, personality traits, and preference for the stay-at-home mother role in Lebanon. BMC Psychol 13, 495 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02832-8
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