Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The health effects of work and family role characteristics: Gender and race comparisons

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many studies have documented the benefits of work and family roles for both physical and mental health. A number of these studies have suggested that work and family roles are beneficial to the degree that they entail rewarding relationships and activities. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 10633; 17 percent African-American), this paper examines three questions: (a) Are gender and race differences in health explained by gender and race differences in work and family roles? (b) How do characteristics of work and family roles contribute to health? (c) Are there gender and race differences in the effects of work and family role characteristics? Simple occupancy of work and family roles does not explain away gender and race differences in health. Several characteristics of work and family roles have significant health effects, but there are few significant gender and race differences in those effects, and role characteristics do not change the pattern of gender and race differences in health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alcalay, R., & Pasick, R. J. (1983). Psycho-social factors and the Technologies of Work.Social Science and Medicine, 17 1075–1084.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amott, T. L., & Matthaei, J. A. (1991).Race, gender and work: A multicultural economic history. Boston: South End Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arber, S. (1991). Class, paid employment and family roles: Making sense of structural disadvantage, gender and health status.Social Science and Medicine, 32 425–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aneshensel, C. S., & Pearlin, L. I. (1987). Structural contexts of sex differences in stress. In R. Barnett, L. Biener, & G. Baruch (Eds.),Gender and stress. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, R. C., & Baruch, G. K. (1985). Women's involvement in multiple roles and psychological distress.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49 135–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, R. C., & Baruch, G. K. (1987). Social roles, gender, and psychological distress. In R. Barnett, L. Biener, & G. Baruch (Eds.),Gender and Stress. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, R. C., Davidson, H., & Marshall, N. L. (1991). Physical symptoms and the interplay of work and family roles.Health Psychology, 10 94–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, R. C., Brennan, R. T., & Marshall, N. L. (1994). Gender and the relationship between parent role quality and psychological distress.Journal of Family Issues, 15 229–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baruch, G. K., & Barnett, R. C. (1986). Role quality, multiple role involvement, and psychological well-being in midlife women.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51 578–585.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baruch, G. K., & Barnett, R. C. (1987). Role quality and psychological well-being. In F. J. Crosby (Ed.),Spouse, parent, worker. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckett, J. O., & Smith, A. D. (1981). Work and family roles: Egalitarian marriage in black and white families.Social Service Review, 55 314–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broman, C. L. (1991). Gender, work-family roles, and psychological well-being of blacks.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53 509–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleary, P. D. (1987). Gender differences in stress-related disorders. In R. Barnett, L. Biener, & G. Baruch (Eds.),Gender and Stress. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, S., & Lejeune, R. (1972). Illness and the legitimation of failure.American Sociological Review, 37 347–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericksen, J. A., Yancey, W. L., & Ericksen, E. P. (1979). The division of family roles.Journal Marriage and the Family, 41 301–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferree, M. M. (1987). Family and job for working-class women: Gender and class systems seen from below. In N. Gerstel & H. E. Gross (Eds.),Families and work. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowers, B. J. (1991). His and her marriage: A multivariate study of gender and marital satisfaction.Sex Roles, 24 209–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furstenberg, F. F. (1987). The new extended family: The experience of parents and children after remarriage. In K. Pasley & M. Ihinger-Tallman (Eds.),Remarriage and Stepparenting: Current research and theory. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gove, W. R., & Zeiss, C. (1987). Multiple roles and happiness. In F. J. Crosby (Ed.),Spouse, parent, worker. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, B. (1993). Marital status and women's health: The effect of economic marital acquisitions.Journal of Marriage and the Family 55 495–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helson, R., Elliott, T., & Leigh, J. (1990). Number and quality of roles: A longitudinal personality view.Psychology of Women Quarterly, 14 83–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hibbard, J. H., & Pope, C. R. (1993). The quality of social roles as predictors of morbidity and mortality.Social Science and Medicine 36 217–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill Collins, P. (1990).Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. London: HarperCollins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochschild, A. R. (1989).The second shift. New York: Viking Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • House, J. S., Landis, K. R., & Umberson, D. (1988). Social relationships and health.Science, 241 540–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Idler, E. L., & Angel, R. J. (1990). Self-rated health and mortality in the NHANES-I Epidemiological Follow-up Study.American Journal of Public Health, 80 446–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kibria, N., Barnett, R. C., Baruch, G. K., Marshall, N. L., & J. H., Pleck (1990). Homemaking-role quality and the psychological well-being and distress of employed women.Sex Role, 22 327–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaCroix, A. Z., & Haynes, S. G. (1987). Gender differences in the health effects of workplace roles. In R. Barnett, L. Biener, & G. Baruch (Eds.),Gender and stress. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loscocco, K. A., & Spitze, G. (1990). Working conditions, social support, and the well-being of female and male factory workers.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 31 313–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maret, E., & Finlay, B. (1984). The distribution of household labor among women in dual earner families.Annual Review of Sociology, 13 237–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • McRae, J. A., & Brody, C. J. (1989). The differential importance of marital experiences for the well-being of women and men: A research note.Social Science Research, 18 237–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menaghan, E. G. (1989). Role changes and psychological well-being: Variations in effects by gender and role repertoire.Social Forces, 67 693–714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J., Schooler, C, Kohn, M. L., & Miller, K. A. (1979). Women and Work: The psychological effects of occupational conditions.American Journal of Sociology, 85 66–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugliesi, K. (1995). Work and well-being: Gender differences in the psychological consequences of employment.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 36 57–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reskin, B. F., & Coverman, S. (1985). Sex and race in the determinants of psychophysical distress: A reappraisal of the sex-role hypothesis.Social Forces, 63 1038–1059.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, C. E., Mirowsky, J., & Goldsteen, K. (1990). The impact of the family on health: The decade in review.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52 1059–1078.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rushing, B., Ritter, C., & R. P. D. Burton (1992). Race differences in the effects of multiple roles health: Evidence from longitudinal cohort of older men.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 33 126–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rushing, B., & Schwabe, A. M. (1993).Role configurations and health: Differential effects of marriage and cohabitation. Presented at the annual meetings of the American Sociological Association Miami, FL.

  • Santrock, J. W., & Sitterle, K. A. (1987). Parent-child relationships in stepmother families. In K. Pasley & M. Ihinger-Tallman (Eds.),Remarriage and Stepparenting: Current Research and Theory. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schooler, C., Miller, J., Miller, K. A., & Richtand, C. N. (1984). Work for the household: Its nature and consequences for husbands and wives.American Journal of Sociology, 90 97–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweet, J., Bumpass, L., & Call, V. (1988).The design and content of the National Survey of Families and Households. Working Paper NSFH-1, Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin—Madison.

  • Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Tucker, M. B., & Lewis, E. (1990). Developments in research on black families: A decade review.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52 993–1014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1986). Multiple identities: Examining gender and marital status differences in distress.American Sociological Review, 51 259–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verbrugge, L. M. (1985). Gender and health: An update on hypotheses and evidence.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26 156–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Voydanoff, P., & Donnelly, B. W. (1989). Work and family roles and psychological distress.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 51 923–932.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldron, I., & Jacobs, J. A. (1988). Effects of labor force participation on women's health: New evidence from a longitudinal study.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 30 977–983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldron, I., & Jacobs, J. A. (1989). Effects of multiple roles on women's health—Evidence from a national longitudinal study.Women & Health, 15 3–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheaton, B. (1990). Life Transitions, role histories, and mental health.American Sociological Review, 55 209–223.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Tennessee at Martin, 38238, Martin, TN, USA

    Beth Rushing

  2. Kent State University, USA

    Annette Schwabe

Authors
  1. Beth Rushing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Annette Schwabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rushing, B., Schwabe, A. The health effects of work and family role characteristics: Gender and race comparisons. Sex Roles 33, 59–75 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547935

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547935

Keywords

Search

Navigation