Fate of the total score: Dimensionality of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46 (CMNI-46)

The Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46 (CMNI-46) measures conformity to hegemonic masculine gender role norms. Research offers conflicting conclusions regarding the CMNI-46's dimensionality, with varying degrees of support for models that consist of 9 correlated factors and second-order or bifactor models that include a general Conformity to Masculine Norms (CMN) factor. To clarify the instrument's dimensionality, the present study used confirmatory factor analysis and ancillary bifactor measures in 2 samples of community (N = 627) and college men (N = 811). Results generally supported the use of the correlated factors solution for conceptualizing and modeling the CMNI-46. In turn, there was a lack of support for using the CMNI-46 to measure a general CMN factor, as the general CMN factor accounted for little variance in both samples. The theoretical implication is that the CMNI-46 can measure conformity to specific masculine norms but not overall conformity.