Role Conflict in the Postparental Period

Abstract

A theory of role conflict is developed in order to predict how the marital satisfaction of 190 postparental women might vary depending on their employment status (employed or retired) and their husbands' employment status (employed or retired), while controlling for number of demographic factors. The data used to test the hypotheses are obtained from a statewide survey of Washington state residents age 55 and over in 1980. The results of the first multiple regression analysis indicate that only the prestige associated with wives' present or former occupations (SEI) and husbands' present or former occupations (SSEI) have significant effects on marital satisfaction. However, when analyzed separately by wives' employment status, SEI and SSEI, along with chronological age, are found to significantly affect the marital satisfaction of employed women, but not retired women. Possible implications of the findings are discussed.