SELF-CARE OF WOMEN WITH DUAL ROLE OVERLOAD

The main aim of the research was to examine the level of negative consequences of workload (burnout and perceived stress) of women working in helping professions due to the extent of overload within the family. The second aim of the study was to clarify the self-care of women suffering from dual role overload. 112 women (M=38.4 years, SD = 10.43) who worked full-time and took care of at least one child (min. age of the youngest child was in the range of 3-15 years) participated in the research. All participants completed two instruments measuring burnout syndrome (MBI-HSS), perceived stress (PSS-10), family overload and performed activities of self-care (VSS). In general, women experience a medium level of emotional exhaustion, higher than average level of perceived stress and higher than average level of family strain. There were negative significant relationships of a slight to moderate level found between the three areas of self-care (psychological, work and health) on the one side and work (emotional exhaustion, perceived stress) and family overload on the other. Women with a higher level of dual role overload (n=44; 39.3%) significantly differed from women with a lower one (n=68, 60.7%). This was particularly the case in the performance of psychological, work and health self-care. In the area of self-care in terms of physical activities, there were no differences identified. The findings suggest that self-care can play an important role in reducing the level of sensation of dual role overload on women working in helping professions.