Middle Generation Roles and the Well-being of Men and Women

It is found thatGiving help to parents increases men's distress, while giving help to adult children enhances women's well-being, which indicates women are unaffected by the multiplicity of roles while, for men, there is evidence of both role buffering and strain from conflicting demands.

Abstract

Sociological literature on gender, work, and families has focused on both conflict and benefits created by combining the spouse, parent, and paid worker roles, whereas research by family gerontologists has focused on stress experienced by those who provide care to frail elderly parents as well as other roles associated with being in the "middle generation." We examine consequences of adding middle generation roles to other major life roles during the middle years. We find that giving help to parents increases men's distress, while giving help to adult children enhances women's well-being. When help to biological parents is examined separately, it is found to increase both men's and women's distress. Women are unaffected by the multiplicity of roles while, for men, there is evidence of both role buffering and strain from conflicting demands. We discuss further directions for research on consequences of roles for well-being.