Grace K. Baruch

Determinants of Fathers' Participation in Family Work.

Determinants of fathers participation in child care and household chores are examined in an interview study of 160 US caucasian middle-class mothers and fathers. This study examines maternal employment status as well as several aspects of mothers work patterns as potential determinants of paternal participation. Several aspects of fathers work patterns are also examined. 4 other parental categories of determinants of paternal participation include: 1) family structure 2) parental sex-role attitudes 3) parental socialization and 4) sociodemographic factors. Results indicate that maternal employment moderates the relationship between particular determinants and particular forms of paternal involvement. The effect of childs age and sex on fathers participation was significant for total interaction time and solo interaction time for the total sample and for fathers with nonemployed wives. In families with elementary-school-aged children fathers absolute participation is highest when the cildren are at the young end of the age range and decreases as the children mature presumably as children grow in independence and allow the father to respond to his preferences rather than to the demands of the family situation. In dual-earner families the mothers attitude toward the male role is also a major predictor of fathers participation. In families with nonemployed wives fathers attitudes toward the quality of fathering they received as youngsters is the most consistent predictor of participation. These findings support earlier research suggesting that fathers tend to compensate for perceived deprivation rather than initiate their fathers patterns.

Women in the Middle Years: A Critique of Research and Theory

Research and theory on women in the middle years reflect assumptions and biases that limit our understanding and impair our ability to resolve conflicting findings about womens well-being. Such theorists as Erikson and Levinson focus on chronological age and assume an inappropriate sequence of stages and events. In most research, the centrality of womens reproductive role is assumed and the importance of their work role pattern is ignored. Thus menopause and the “empty nest” receive disproportionate attention. Too little attention is given to stage of the family life cycle and the conditions and status of work. Two active research areas that appear promising for understanding adult women are also discussed: locus of control and attributions; and social networks and support systems.

The Psychological Well-Being of Women in the Middle Years

This chapter addresses three questions with respect to the psychological well-being of women in the middle years. What is psychological well-being? How do midlife women vary in level of well-being? What are women’s sources of psychological well-being? In other words, what is it, who has it, and how did they get it? Because answers to the last two questions depend upon how well-being is defined, the conceptualization and measurement of well-being are discussed first; findings are then presented that bear on variations and sources.