Schneider, Barbara and Linda J. Waite (Eds.). BEING TOGETHER, WORKING APART: DUAL-CAREER FAMILIES AND THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE

PurposeDual-careers are an increasingly common typology among professionals yet very few studies have considered how two potentially competing career trajectories are managed in relation to the broader aspects of life, such as family and personal life. This article addresses the gap through an exploration of the strategies adopted by dual-career professional couples as they seek to navigate these challenges whilst satisfying individual and shared goals and aspirations.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured, face-to-face interviews were carried out with 18 couples (dyads) from a range of professional occupations. Interviews were conducted individually, and then responses analysed and compared for key themes.FindingsRather than focusing on how couples manage work–life balance on a day-today basis this study shows how couples incorporate a more strategic approach to dual-careers so that both careers are able to progress, albeit within situational constraints.Practical implicationsTo satisfy personal, business and economic performance goals, organisations and governments will need to find more creative ways to support employees as they seek to navigate careers while balancing the work and nonwork needs of themselves and their partner. The challenges faced by dual-career couples have implications for human resource managers as they seek to attract and retained talent within their organisations.Social implicationsDemographic and social changes at the household level will ultimately require changes at an organisational and broader societal level to meet the work and family needs of this growing cohort.Originality/valueRather than focusing on how couples manage work-life balance on a day-today basis this study shows how couples incorporate a more strategic approach to dual-careers so that both careers are able to progress, albeit within situational constraints.

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Roles of Selected Psycho-Demographic Factors on Quality of Sex Life and Marital Satisfaction among Dual-career Couples

Romanian Journal of Applied Psychology ◽

10.24913/rjap.22.1.02 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 9-14

Keyword(s):

Marital Satisfaction ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Work Life ◽

Work Life Balance ◽

Dual Career ◽

Life Balance ◽

Men And Women ◽

Dual Career Couples ◽

Quality Of Sex Life

The study investigated the predictive roles of career self-efficacy, work-life balance and selected demographic factors on the quality of sex life and marital satisfaction among dual-career couples in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, and assessed if there are significant differences between men and women. The study used a cross-sectional research design and 1056 dual-career men and women ( age = 43.98, σ = 9.48, ♀ = 37.0%) participated in the study. A self-administered paper and pencil questionnaire was used to collect data from samples that were conveniently drawn from the study area. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Results showed significant differences in structural weights, structural covariances, and structural residuals in the model outputs for both men and women careerists. The study concluded that career self-efficacy and work-life balance differentially predict the quality of sex life and marital satisfaction for both men and women in a dual-career family, and that age and job tenure are not significant predictors of quality of sex life and marital satisfaction among dual-career couples.

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