Balancing Work and Marriage: Job Stress and Marital Satisfaction in Dual-Career Couples

Abstract

Although the literature on work-family interactions is expanding, to our knowledge, significant gaps remain in understanding how job stress relates to the marital satisfaction of dual-career couples. Most of these studies primarily concentrate on individual stressors or overlook the complex interactions between personal and relational factors, specifically within a non-Western context. In this regard, the current study aims to enhance our understanding of the relationship between job stress and marital satisfaction among dual-career couples in Türkiye. Accordingly, the job stress and marital satisfaction levels of 108 dual-career couples (N= 216, aged between 23 and 58 years old) living in Türkiye were investigated. Data were collected via A Job Stress Scale-20, Marital Satisfaction Scale, and a demographic form. The Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used to analyze data. Results revealed that wives’ job stress significantly predicted wives’ marital satisfaction and husbands’ job stress significantly predicted husbands’ marital satisfaction. None of the partner effects were significant. The findings were discussed in relation to existing literature, and further research suggestions and relevant practical implications were pointed out.

Keywords

• Dual-career Marriages
• Job Stress
• Satisfaction
• Actor Partner İnterdependence Model

İş ve Evlilik Dengesi: Çift Kariyerli Eşlerde İş Stresi ve Evlilik Doyumu

Abstract

İş-aile etkileşimlerine ilişkin araştırmaların artmasına rağmen, bildiğimiz kadarıyla, iş stresinin çift kariyerli çiftlerin evlilik doyumuyla nasıl ilişkili olduğunu anlamada literatürde hala önemli boşluklar vardır. Bu çalışmaların çoğu öncelikle bireysel stres faktörlerine odaklanmakta veya özellikle Batılı olmayan bir bağlamda kişisel ve ilişkisel faktörler arasındaki karmaşık etkileşimleri göz ardı etmektedir. Bu bağlamda, mevcut çalışma Türkiye'deki çift kariyerli çiftler arasında iş stresi ve evlilik doyumunun nasıl ilişkili olduğuna dair anlayışı geliştirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, Türkiye'de yaşayan, yaşları 23 ile 58 arasında değişen, 108 çift kariyerli çiftin (N= 216) iş stresi ve evlilik doyumu düzeyleri araştırılmıştır. Veriler, İş Stresi Ölçeği-20, Evlilik Doyumu Ölçeği ve demografik form aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Verileri analiz etmek için Aktör-Partner Karşılıklı Bağımlılık Modeli (APIM) kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlar, eşlerin iş stresinin eşlerin evlilik doyumunu ve erkeklerin iş stresinin kendi evlilik doyumlarını anlamlı bir şekilde yordadığını ortaya koymuştur. Partner etkilerin hiçbiri anlamlı değildir. Bulgular mevcut literatürle ilişkili olarak tartışılmış ve daha ileri araştırma önerileri ve ilgili pratik çıkarımlara işaret edilmiştir.

Keywords

• Çift Kariyerli Evlilikler
• İş Stresi
• Doyum
• Aktör Partner Karşılıklı Bağımlılık Modeli

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