Politics, lack of career progress, and work/home conflict: Stress and strain for working women

Abstract

This study examines the stress experienced by working women in terms of politics, lack of career progress, and work/home conflicts, the symptoms of distress and satisfaction associated with these stressors, and the organizational resources available for managing these demands. Subjects were 195 female personnel professionals. A different pattern of results emerged for politics and lack of career progress in contrast to work/home conflicts. Specifically, politics and lack of career progress were associated with greater strain symptoms and reduced satisfaction, and organizational resources were associated with lower levels of these stressors. Work/home conflicts were associated with greater strain symptoms, but were unrelated to satisfaction and organizational resources. This suggests that organizations identify the most effective targets of their resources to achieve beneficial results.