Relation between coping strategies and distress, stress, and marital adjustment of multiple-role women.

Abstract

This study examined time-management and self-care coping techniques that multiple-role women use and their relation to self-reported levels of distress, stress, and marital adjustment. The subjects (JV = 69) were married, had at least one child under the age of 12, and were employed outside the home for more than 20 hr per week. Subjects completed a demographic questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Derogatis Stress Profile, and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. In addition, subjects participated in a 15-min structured interview designed to assess number, type, and frequency of use of time-management and self-care coping strategies. Results of the study indicated that the number, type, and frequency of use of coping strategies were significantly related to self-reported levels of distress, stress, and particularly marital adjustment. Further analysis of high and low scorers on the marital-adjustment test revealed significant differences between the groups on measures of distress and coping. Subjects in the high-niarital-adjustment group had significantly lower levels of distress, employed a greater number of coping strategies, and reported greater frequency of use of coping strategies than subjects in the low-marital-adjustment group.An important gender-related issue in counseling psychology involves the relation between distress, stress, marital adjustment, and coping strategies. Women and men respond to stressors with different distress reactions and coping strategies. Women, on the whole, report more distress than men, even though there is no evidence that women are exposed to a greater number of stressors than men (Kessler, 1979;Russo, 1985). Thus, exposure to the same kinds of stressors and frequency of occurrence seem to have a different effect depending on gender. Some researchers have concluded that much of the gender difference is attributable to differences in appraisal of stressors and in differences in coping strategies (Kessler, McLeod, & Wethington, 1985). Women, for example, are more likely than men to appraise interpersonal events such as those occurring within the marital relationship as stressful. Women also appear to cope less effectively with stressors than men and, in fact, in some instances to employ passive coping strategies that may exacerbate rather than reduce distress (Billings & Moos, 1981;Pearlin & Schooler, 1978). An analysis of particular coping strategies used by women is important because there is some relation between the type of coping strategy one uses and the degree to which a stressor results in actual distress. This relationship has been found to be particularly important in the marital domain (Pearlin & Schooler).For women who are married with children and also employed outside of the home, the marital relationship can be a potentially even greater stressor. Two-career couples have the highest rate of divorce in the United States. Lack of time for spouse, lack of emotional support, and competition between

Work Stress, Coping Strategies and Resilience: A Study among Working Females

“…Even with the changing societal trends and expectations, it is still 'expected' that working females should assume the traditional role of a homemaker (Noor, 1999;Nair, 2011). The added elements of motherhood in some working females increased the possibility of acute dual-role or multiple role stress as a mother, employee and spouse or partner (Kline & Snow, 1994;McLaughlin et al, 1988;Meleis & Stevens, 1992;O'Neill & Zeichner, 1985;Snow et al, 2003). Noor's (1999) preliminary findings on Malaysian working women's roles and wellbeing showed that the juggle between work and family demands have contributed to the adverse psychological and emotional wellbeing for the working mothers, this includes feelings of guilt, anxiety or decreased role satisfaction at work and home.…”

The Assessment of Marital Adjustment with Muslim Populations: A Reliability Study of the Locke–Wallace Marital Adjustment Test

“…Reliability scores may be lower with first generation immigrants as they are likely to be less acculturated than is their children's generation. The researcher also hypothesized that perceptions of marital adjustment would differ based on the partners' gender, as supported by previous research (McLaughlin et al 1988). The study sought to examine four related research questions:…”

Intentional Harmony in the Lives of Working Parents: Program Development and Evaluation*

“…Work-life research and theoretical literature form the foundation of MWP. The outcome goals and intervention areas stem from research on the association of work-life coping strategies with the well-being of workers (Anderson & Leslie, 1991;Doumas, Margolin, & John, 2003;Haddock, Zimmerman, Ziemba, & Current, 2001;McLaughlin, Cormier, & Cormier, 1988).…”

“…Organizational skills. Organizational skills can help working parents manage multiple role demands (Kater, 1985;McLaughlin et al, 1988;Paden & Buehler, 1995). Some examples include planning ahead, prioritizing tasks, and using calendars.…”