Does Wives' Employment Cause Stress for Husbands?

The proportion of married women who work outside the home has increased to a remarkable level, and female participation in the labor force promises to remain high. Numerous studies have focused on the consequence of female employment for dependent children (Nye & Hoffman, 1963), and a lesser number have centered on the costs and benefits of employment for the woman herself (Welch & Booth, 1977). However, much less is known about husbands' reactions than wives'. The vast majority of studies of the effects of wives' employment on marital adjustment are concerned with wives' adjustment (Hoffman & Nye, 1974; Nye & Hoffman, 1963). On the one hand, employment could contribute to marital discord or stress experienced by the husband. The wife's job may: reduce the amount of personal care the husband receives; increase his responsibilities for child care and other activities he defines