Growing up in a Dual-Career Family: The Children's Perceptions

Ninety-three adolescent and young adult children of dual-career families were surveyed as to their satisfaction with the lifestyle, perceptions of eight components of family strength and their views on various issues related to the dual-career experience. Family strength and lifestyle scores were compared by sex of respondent, age categories, ordinal position, whether or not their mothers had interrupted their careers, and as to the parent indicated as being the most influential in their lives. In general, the children viewed the lifestyle positively and scored their families respectively high in family strength, especially the categories of concern and supportiveness. Nonetheless, problem areas previously associated with dual-career family living, such as time constraints, were identified by the adolescents.