Role conflict and role overload: Different concepts, different consequences

The concepts of role conflict and role overload have been used often interchangeably, to interpret sources of gender differences in role-related mental health among men and women who combine the roles of spouse, parent, and worker. However, these types of chronic role strains actually represent two distinct concepts. Definitions of the concepts suggest different contextual sources for these role difficulties as well as different mental health consequences of experiencing them. This paper analyzes some potential sources of feelings of role conflict and role overload and estimates their effects in undermining psychological well-being among a sample of women who combine work and family roles. Results indicate that (a) different contextual factors influence individuals' feelings of role conflict and role overload, and (b) feelings of role conflict significantly undermine psychological well-being, while feelings of role overload do not.