The Effect of Gender Role Attitudes on Marital Quality through Work-family Conflict: Actor-partner Effect

Maintaining a healthy marriage may be challenging for military couples as they attempt to balance the demands of work and family; for dual-military couples, this can be even more challenging. Using data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study, we examined whether military stress experiences negatively impact marital quality through the mediation of work–family conflict. Spouse gender and dual-military status were included as moderators. Spouses reported on marital quality, work–family conflict, military stress experiences, and personal military experience. Spouse and service member demographics were also included. Results demonstrated that experiencing more military stress experiences was related to lower marital quality, which was mediated by work–family conflict. Additionally, female dual spouses reported lower marital quality than male dual spouses and civilian spouses. Findings from this study highlight the importance of providing support to military spouses for stressful military events and potentially tailoring support services for female dual spouses to improve marital quality.

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Gender role beliefs and fathers’ work-family conflict

Journal of Managerial Psychology ◽

10.1108/jmp-11-2012-0372 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 774-793 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ann Hergatt Huffman ◽

Kristine J. Olson ◽

Thomas C. O’Gara Jr ◽

Eden B. King

Keyword(s):

Gender Roles ◽

Gender Role ◽

Family Conflict ◽

Work Hours ◽

Work Family Conflict ◽

Gender Role Beliefs ◽

Family Experiences ◽

Content Type ◽

Traditional Gender Role ◽

Work Family

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the part that gender roles play in fathers’ work-family experiences. The authors compared two models (gender role as a correlate and as a moderator) and hypothesized that gender role beliefs play an important factor related to fathers’ experiences of work-family conflict. Design/methodology/approach – Participants completed an online survey that consisted of questions related to work and family experiences. The final sample consisted of 264 employed, married fathers. Findings – Results showed a relationship between traditional gender role beliefs and number of hours spent at work and at home. Additionally, number of work hours was related to time-based work-to-family conflict, but not strain-based work-to-family conflict. The results supported the expectation that work hours mediate the relationship between a father's traditional gender role beliefs and time-based work-to-family conflict. Research limitations/implications – Limitations of this study include the use cross-sectional and self-report data. Future research might want to expand the theoretical model to be more inclusive of fathers of more diverse demographic backgrounds, and assess the model with a longitudinal design. Practical implications – A key theoretical implication gleaned from the study is that work-family researchers should include the socially constructed variable of gender roles in their work-family research. Findings provide support for the contention that organizations need to ensure that mothers’ and fathers’ unique needs are being met through family-friendly programs. The authors provide suggestions for specific workplace strategies. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies that focussed on fathers’ experiences of the work-family interface. The results clarify that traditional gender role beliefs give rise to fathers’ gendered behaviors and ultimately work-family conflict.

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Couple Perceptions as Mediators Between Family Economic Strain and Marital Quality: Evidence From Longitudinal Dyadic Data

Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning ◽

10.1891/jfcp-18-00065 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. JFCP-18-00065

Author(s):

D. Bruce Ross ◽

Jerry Gale ◽

Kandauda Wickrama ◽

Joseph Goetz ◽

Matthew James Vowels ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Conflict ◽

Marital Quality ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Married Couples ◽

Marital Stability ◽

Economic Strain ◽

Work Family Conflict ◽

Marital Support ◽

Work Family ◽

The Impact

The deleterious nature of U.S. economic recessions over the last several decades highlight a need to investigate the role of family economic strain on families. The current study explored the impact of family economic strain on marital quality and marital stability through dyadic associations of marital support and work–family conflict of 370 married couples over a 12-year period (1989–2001) through an actor–partner interdependence model, encompassing two major U.S. recessions. Guided by family stress and coping theory, findings are consistent with past research indicating the negative impact of family economic strain on marital quality and marital stability; however, this impact may be mitigated through the mediation of positive perceptions of marital support and work–family conflict. Implications suggest financial counselors should consider the lasting influence of economic strain on families, and how the psychosocial resources of martial support and managing work–family conflict may promote relationship quality and stability.

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