Life Role Salience Dimensions and Mental Health Outcomes Among Female Expatriate Spouses in Turkey

Abstract

Using life role salience theory, we investigated the extent to which occupational, parental, marital, and home care roles explained mental health outcomes among female expatriate spouses. Participants ( N = 86) were from English-speaking Northern American or Western European countries; the average age was 38. Results of a two-way within-subject analysis of variance suggested that the occupational role was least important. In a comparison of role expectations, participants had greater value for (than commitment to) their parental role; the reverse was true for the marital role. Results of a path analysis explained 10% of the variance in psychological distress via a direct path from career role importance (β = .14) and an indirect path from the marital role importance through marital satisfaction (β = −.12). Three paths (parental role importance, β = .14; home care role importance, β = .15; indirectly from marital role importance through marital satisfaction, β = .18) explained 24% of the variance in psychological well-being.