First-Generation Married Women in Changing Social Roles: An Integrative Theoretical Perspective on Emotional Resilience, Marital Adjustment,Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction

Women’s growing participation in higher education and paid work has changed family and gender roles inIndia. These changes are especially important for first-generation educated women, who enter highereducation and professional life without a similar educational background in their families. After marriage,they often manage expectations related to work, household responsibilities, caregiving, marital relationshipsand personal growth.This theoretical paper develops an integrative psychosocial framework linkingemotional resilience, marital adjustment, psychological well-being and life satisfaction. Drawing onresilience theory, stress and coping, conservation of resources, role theory, work–family conflict andenrichment, and models of psychological well-being, the paper argues that employment status alone cannotexplain women’s psychological functioning. Well-being is shaped by the interaction of role demands,personal resources, marital relationships, social support and autonomy. First-generation status is viewedas an intergenerational educational transition that may influence identity, aspirations and social mobility.Emotional resilience acts as a personal resource, while marital adjustment and social support provideimportant relational resources. Employment may create both stress and opportunities for growth dependingon working conditions, family support and role flexibility. The paper presents an integrated frameworkand suggests directions for future empirical research in diverse Indian settings.