Testing the theory of resilience and relational load in dual career families: relationship maintenance as stress management

This study examined whether relationship maintenance buffers the stress of balancing work and family. Sixty-two dual-earning couples and their adolescents completed surveys at the beginning and end of the week, recorded their stress throughout the week, and collected saliva on two consecutive days in the middle of the week. When mothers and fathers received more maintenance from each other and adolescents received more maintenance from their parents over the past month (T1), it was associated with a greater rise in cortisol awakening response. Greater maintenance received over the past month was also associated with lower interleukin-6 in adolescents and lower perceived stress during the week for fathers and adolescents. Finally, less maintenance the past month predicted greater conflict during the week for mothers, which predicted less satisfaction balancing work and family. Less maintenance over the past month and conflict during the week also predicted loneliness for both parents.