Coping with Conflict Between Professional and Maternal Roles.

This study investigated how 22 female parents in dual-career families view several elements of their professional and maternal roles and compared the effectiveness of two strategies for dealing with conflict between these roles. As predicted, role conflict is experienced when the various role elements are perceived as nearly equal in importance. Contrary to expectations, subjects using a role redefinition strategy did not differ from subjects using a role expansion strategy in self-reports of role conflict and coping effectiveness. These results are explained in terms of internal guilt from perceived neglect of the maternal role. The implications of these findings for professionals working with dual-career couples or teaching in this area are discussed and a four-step model to assist women in dual-career families in dealing with their role conflict is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]