Coping among Dual-Career Men and Women across the Family Life Cycle

Abstract

Differences in coping across five family life cycle stages are identified using responses from 329 dual-career women and men. Coping strategy use differs significantly by gender and life cycle stage. Women utilize the coping strategies of Cognitive Restructuring, Delegating, Limiting Avocational Activities, and Using Social Support significantly more often than do men. Dual-career men and women without children at home use Compartmentalizing significantly less frequently than men and women with children. Respondents whose oldest child is under age 6 reported less use of Delegating than those with an oldest child age 13-18. Limiting Avocational Activities is used less often by participants with children under age 6 than by those with older children. The results are discussed from a family life cycle perspective.