NATURE OF THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY SATISFACTION IN WOMEN

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to specify the nature of the relationships between work and marital satisfaction in the women. In addition it aimed at revealing as to whether demographic variables, such as age, position, length of service, marriage duration, and the number of children have an impact upon the work and marital satisfaction in working women. The present study included 120 married, working women, and analyses the relationship between job satisfaction and marital satisfaction, taking into consideration emotional and cognitive factors. The participants were mostly office workers, of whom 20 (8%) occupied management positions. The Descriptions Inventory, Job Affect Scale, Questionnaire of Well-matched Marriage, and a scale of work-job interactions were administered. Significant positive correlations across almost all variables of job and marital satisfaction were observed. This means that the increase of marital satisfaction corresponds with the increase in job satisfaction, although the work/family conflict resulted in experiencing negative emotions at work. Moreover, the level of job satisfaction was higher than the level of family satisfaction. It was also found that the age and time spent at work proved to have a negative impact upon job satisfaction. Work-family facilitation proved to be crucial since its exclusion made the interface between all factors of family satisfaction and work insignificant. At the same time, the managerial women suffered from work/family conflict to a greater degree than did office workers. The study revealed also that the needs of older workers should be taken into account to maintain their work/life balance.