This paper reviews Pearson's (2008) quantitative study examining the relationships among role overload, job satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, and psychological health in employed women. Drawing on the role scarcity and role enhancement perspectives, the study tested whether these variables predicted overall well-being. Results indicated that role overload was the strongest predictor of psychological health, while job and leisure satisfaction contributed additional explanatory power. The paper also discusses counseling implications, particularly the application of Bloland and Edwards's (1981) comprehensive career counseling model, as well as the study's methodological limitations, including its restricted sample and potential method variance concerns.
The theorized contribution of work and leisure to life satisfaction has been documented in a number of empirical studies. Recent definitions of career and career counseling have stressed the importance of non-work variables, such as leisure and other life roles. Recognizing the possibility that leisure might balance both negative employment experiences and inadequate positive opportunities associated with work, Bloland and Edwards (1981) developed a career counseling model consisting of work and leisure components. This model emphasizes the potential of combining work and leisure activities to meet clients' needs and enhance overall life satisfaction.
Researchers have cautioned against generalizing such results for women, because one of the most critical factors affecting the relationship between work, leisure, and psychological health involves multiple roles. Compared with men, women continue to bear far greater responsibility for household tasks. Attempting to manage multiple roles can lead to role overload and subsequent strain and mental illness. Closely aligned with this concern is the role enhancement hypothesis of Marks (1977), which emphasizes that multiple roles can be energizing and provide opportunities for meaningful involvement. By contrast, the role scarcity perspective assumes that limits to time and energy are exhausted and overtaxed when role demands increase (Goode, 1960).
Recent studies argue that the perception of roles — particularly role conflict and overload — is related to women's psychological health and overall well-being. Tiedje and Wortman (1990) found that women who experienced high role conflict were more depressed and less satisfied as mothers, regardless of perceptions of enhancement. Similarly, a study of employed married women by Hecht (2001) found that even though role conflict between working and being a mother was significantly related to lower levels of psychological health, role overload alone was not significant.
These studies focused on specific groups of employed women and used limited measures of psychological health and well-being. Work-related measures varied considerably, and combined factors of work and leisure were rarely considered together. Pearson's (2008) study examined the relationship between role overload, job satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, and psychological health — using a comprehensive measure of well-being and distress — for women employed across a variety of occupations.
The study addressed the following research questions:
1. What are the bivariate relationships between role overload, job satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, and psychological health?
2. What are the multivariate relationships between role overload, job satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, and psychological health?
3. To what extent do role overload, job satisfaction, and leisure satisfaction predict psychological health?
In this quantitative, correlational study, the first research question addressed the bivariate relationships between role overload, job satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, and psychological health. Scatter diagrams showed the relationships between these variables to be linear in nature. The second question addressed the multivariate relationships between key variables and the degree to which role overload, job satisfaction, and leisure satisfaction predicted psychological health.
"Role overload as strongest psychological health predictor"
"Applying Bloland and Edwards career counseling model"
"Sample constraints and method variance concerns"
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