Home Characteristics, Nonwork-Work Role Demands Effects on the Well-Being of Dual-Earner Parents

This study investigated home demands, home resources, nonwork roles interference with-work roles and the welfare of dual-earner parents. A cross-sectional survey design was used in this research, where a convenience sample of dual-earner parents (N=207) were taken from a metropolitan district in South Africa. A booklet consisting of various questionnaires measuring home characteristics, nonwork-work interference, life satisfaction, ill-health, cognitive weariness and exhaustion were distributed to the participants. Product-moment correlations were conducted in order to establish the relationships between variables and multiple regressions were used to establish which home characteristics and nonwork-work interference dimensions predicted which health outcomes (physical health, anxiety, depression, and exhaustion). Gender and age were employed as control variables. Emotional home demands and lack of autonomy significantly predicted physical ill health. Emotional home demands and spouse-work interference significantly predicted anxiety and depression. Gender, home pressure, developmental possibilities and parent-work interference were significant predictors of exhaustion.