Sources of Role Strain Among Dual‐Career Couples

Abstract

This research examined the extent of role strain among husbands and wives in 69 dual‐career couples. The results indicated that, for wives, number of children and importance of the parental role were significant predictors of role strain. For husbands, role strain was related to age of the youngest child and the extent to which childcare tasks were shared. Results demonstrate that a number of career‐ employed husbands are doing more than simply “helping out” with childcare. They, too, are influenced by the demands of parenthood and feel some degree of role strain from parenting responsibilities.