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Multiple Roles, Lifestyle Satisfaction, and Marital Happiness Among Farm Wives

School of Home Economics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Linda F. Little

Department of Family and Child Development, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061

Patricia Wozniak

Department of Experimental Statistics, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Patricia Kain Knaub

105 Home Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0811

O'Neal Weeks

Department of Family and Child Studies, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506

Craig Smith

110 Leverton Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583

The purposes of this study were to explore the multiplicity of farm women's roles and to determine whether a particular role complex is related to lifestyle satisfac tion. Questionnaires were mailed to randomly selected farm families in seven states. Responses from 1,235 wives revealed that 13% functioned in five roles, 37% in four roles, 42% in three roles, and 8% in two roles. Wives from small farms were more likely to carry five role responsibilities. Education was positively re lated to number of roles, while age was negatively related. Although farm size, wives' off-farm income, and length of marriage were significantly related to num ber of roles, the relationships were not linear. Number of roles negatively affected lifestyle satisfaction but not marital happiness. Lifestyle satisfaction was de creased by having an off-farm-work role and a parenting role, but not by a farm- work role. The number of roles was also related to both equity satisfaction and financial security. Younger wives, those with more education, and those from smaller farms are more likely to carry a quintet of roles. In conclusion, it appears that role load of farm wives reduces lifestyle satisfaction. Working off the farm reduces lifestyle satisfaction, but working on the farm does not. However, being a parent reduced lifestyle satisfaction, regardless of the type or number of work roles of the wife. Marital happiness remains independent of all variables in this study.

Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1, 63-76 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/1077727X8801700107


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