Role Conflict and Role Overload: Different Concepts, Different Consequences |
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| Authors: | Laura M Hecht |
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| Institution: | Is associate professor of sociology at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), and senior research scientist at CSUB's Applied Research Center. Her current research interests include modeling life satisfaction among American and Chinese elderly, the psychological consequences of the transition between welfare and work, and patterns of emergency shelter usage among various homeless groups. |
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| Abstract: | The concepts of role conflict and role overload have been used, often interchangeably, to interpret sources of gender differences in role-related mental health among men and women who combine the roles of spouse, parent, and worker. However, these types of chronic role strains actually represent two distinct concepts. Definitions of the concepts suggest different contextual sources for these role difficulties as well as different mental health consequences of experiencing them. This paper analyzes some potential sources of feelings of role conflict and role overload, and estimates their effects in undermining psychological well-being among a sample of women who combine work and family roles. Results indicate that (a) different contextual factors influence individuals'feelings of role conflict and role overload, and (b) feelings of role conflict significantly undermine psychological well-being, while feelings of role overload do not. |
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