Explanatory model of stress and coping process for dual-career men and women

Abstract

An explanatory model of stress and coping for dual-career women and men is presented and tested using distress, a global measure of somatic symptomatology, as the stress measure outcome. Results indicate that the men and women sampled are psychologically vested in both professional and family roles. Additionally, the women, all of whom are employed full time, report no significant associations between having younger children and role strain, parental stress, or distress. Men who have a flexible work schedule indicate significantly lower marital, parental, and professional stress, as well as lower distress. Use of cognitive restructuring coping strategies led to significantly lower distress for both genders; use of role reduction strategies was linked to higher distress levels for men. Additional findings reveal more differences than similarities by gender.