Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Norton, T. R.
Right arrow Articles by Gupta, A.
Right arrow Articles citing this Article
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Norton, T. R.
Right arrow Articles by Gupta, A.
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 57:S52-S62 (2002)
© 2002 The Gerontological Society of America


RESEARCH ARTICLE

Change in the Centrality of Women's Multiple Roles

Effects of Role Stress and Rewards

Tina R. Nortona, Mary Ann Parris Stephensa, Lynn M. Martireb, Aloen L. Townsendc and Anita Guptaa

a Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Ohio
b Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
c Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Tina R. Norton, Department of Psychology, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001.

Decision Editor: Fredric D. Wolinsky, PhD

Objectives. To examine (a) change versus stability over one year in four social roles occupied by 182 midlife women (parent care provider, mother, wife and employee), (b) increases in role stress and increases in role rewards as predictors of change in centrality, and (c) whether increases in stress or increases in rewards were stronger predictors when the 2 were considered simultaneously.

Method. Interviews were conducted at 2 time points approximately 1 year apart. Participants were asked to rate the personal importance of each role on a scale of 1 to 10. Stress and rewards in each role were also assessed.

Results. Analyses revealed considerable change in role centrality, especially in the parent-care and employee roles. Increases in wife and employee stress were associated with decreases in the centrality of these roles, whereas increases in rewards in each of the four roles were related to increases in the centrality of the respective roles. When considered simultaneously, role rewards were stronger predictors of change in centrality than role stress.

Discussion. These findings suggest that the centrality of a social role can change over time in response to stressful and rewarding role experiences.







HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Copyright © 2002 by The Gerontological Society of America.