Marianismo Identity, Self-Silencing, Depression and Anxiety in Women from Santa María de Dota, Costa Rica

Abstract

“Marianismo”, a gender role script in Latin America, is the concept that women should be the spiritual family leaders, remain ab- stinent until marriage, and be submissive to their husbands; it origi- nates from the Catholic Church’s image of the Virgin Mary. I examined the link between Marianismo identity, self-silencing, depression and anxiety in a sample of 47 women from the town of Santa Maria de Dota, Costa Rica, who completed self-report scales. I found positive correla- tions between Marianismo identity and self-silencing, and between self-silencing and both anxiety and depression. Older women rated higher in Marianismo and self-silencing.