title: The meaning of role strain.
abstract: Explicating the meaning of the concept of role strain is important in role theory formulation, an area requiring further development to provide explanations and predictions for both patient and provider roles. In this analysis, the use of the term role strain is traced from the structural-functionalist and symbolic-interactionist perspectives. Descriptive, stipulative, and connotative definitions of role strain are derived, and necessary and relevant properties are proposed. Antecedent and intervening conditions for role strain are outlined from the literature. Role strain manifestations and empirical referents are presented, and an initial step is taken toward a theoretical formulation by defining role strain within the context of role stress.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005190:Family; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012380:Role; D012660:Semantics; D012803:Sick Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*