An Exploratory Path Analysis of the Stress Process for Dual-Career Men and Women

An exploratory model of the stress process for dual-career women and men is presented and tested by path analysis. Distress, a global measure of somatic symptomatology, is the stress outcome measure. Results indicate that the men and women sampled are psychologically vested in both professional and family roles. Additionally, the women, all of whom are employed full-time, report no significant associations between having younger children and role strain, parental stress, or distress. Men who have a flexible work schedule indicate significantly lower marital, parental, and professional stress, as well as lower distress. Use of cognitive restructuring coping strategies was related to significantly lower distress for both genders; use of role reduction strategies was linked to higher distress levels for men. Additional findings reveal more differences than similarities by gender.