The Relationship of Women's Role Strain to Social Support, Role Satisfaction, and Self‐Efficacy^*

Abstract

The relationship of social support, role satisfaction, and self‐efficacy to measures of role strain was explored in a sample of 129 married, employed women with at least 1 preschool‐aged child. Self‐efficacy in work and parental roles proved to be a significant predictor of these women's work‐family conflict and role overload, respectively. In addition, satisfaction with their child care was related to significantly less anxiety about being separated from their young children. Spousal and supervisor support also accounted for significant variation in work‐family conflict, but the impact of organizational support on role conflict was fully mediated by job self‐efficacy.