title: Stress and rewards in women's multiple roles: the case of women in the middle.
abstract: This research examined stress and rewards experienced by 95 women who were simultaneously occupying the roles of caregiver, mother, and wife. The study examined role-specific stress and rewards as predictors of well-being (physical health, positive affect, negative affect, and role overload) and examined the effects of an accumulation of role stress and role rewards across these 3 roles. Role rewards contributed unique variance to well-being, even after role stress had been considered. An accumulation of role stress across roles was related to poorer well-being, whereas an accumulation of role rewards was related to better well-being. Findings indicated that caregivers' experiences in multiple roles could both detract from and enhance their mental and physical health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Ohio 44242-0001.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012201:Reward; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*