by Dr. Luann Linquist, PhD
Our greatest challenge is balancing love and work.
The purpose of this study was to examine successful career women and their resolution of conflict between balancing career and relationship demands. Literature in the following areas was reviewed: fear of success, locus of control, competition factor, and relationship satisfaction. This study focused on locus of control and relationship satisfaction and how they interrelated. The integration of career and significant-other relationship demands was also studied.
Fifty-four successful career women in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in this study. Age, relationship status, income and socioeconomic status were all variables that were controlled. Locus of control was measured by Rotter's Locus of Control Scale. From this scale, generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement were measured. Relationship satisfaction was measured by Spanier's Dyadic Adjustment Scale, which consists of four subscales: Dyadic consensus, dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion, and affectional expression. Thirty of the fifty-four women, fifteen who were currently in a significant-other relationships and fifteen who were not, participated in Linquist's Personal Interview Survey.
For analysis, frequency distributions of scores were developed, descriptive statistics were calculated, and statistical correlations were calculated for interrelationships. Results revealed a large range of locus of control scores among the study's participants. Comparison with another sample of women with similar backgrounds revealed that this study's sample was more internally controlled (significant beyond the .001 level). The women in this study, though considerably higher paid than average working women, were not discernibly different in their degree of dyadic adjustment.
Correlation coefficients were computed on each pair of scores between the Rotter Scale and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Locus of control was not statistically correlated to any of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale score. Developmental career history is described in detail along three subgroups: unplanned careerists, work-directed, and career-oriented. The women of this study tended to see their career success as enhancing themselves and their significant-other relationships. Perception of interaction with competition in career contexts is described in detail along four subgroups, showing the competitive behavior of all the subjects.
In balancing relationship and career demands, the following was found:
No woman was willing to give up her career entirely.
Self-esteem appeared to increase with career success.
The women used delegation.
The women found relief from stress by getting involved in their work.
The women were able to compartmentalize their roles so that one did not impinge on another.
Those women in a current relationship tended to have supportive significant others.
Our greatest challenge is balancing love and work.
The purpose of this study was to examine successful career women and their resolution of conflict between balancing career and relationship demands. Literature in the following areas was reviewed: fear of success, locus of control, competition factor, and relationship satisfaction. This study focused on locus of control and relationship satisfaction and how they interrelated. The integration of career and significant-other relationship demands was also studied.
Fifty-four successful career women in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in this study. Age, relationship status, income and socioeconomic status were all variables that were controlled. Locus of control was measured by Rotter's Locus of Control Scale. From this scale, generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement were measured. Relationship satisfaction was measured by Spanier's Dyadic Adjustment Scale, which consists of four subscales: Dyadic consensus, dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion, and affectional expression. Thirty of the fifty-four women, fifteen who were currently in a significant-other relationships and fifteen who were not, participated in Linquist's Personal Interview Survey.
For analysis, frequency distributions of scores were developed, descriptive statistics were calculated, and statistical correlations were calculated for interrelationships. Results revealed a large range of locus of control scores among the study's participants. Comparison with another sample of women with similar backgrounds revealed that this study's sample was more internally controlled (significant beyond the .001 level). The women in this study, though considerably higher paid than average working women, were not discernibly different in their degree of dyadic adjustment.
Correlation coefficients were computed on each pair of scores between the Rotter Scale and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Locus of control was not statistically correlated to any of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale score. Developmental career history is described in detail along three subgroups: unplanned careerists, work-directed, and career-oriented. The women of this study tended to see their career success as enhancing themselves and their significant-other relationships. Perception of interaction with competition in career contexts is described in detail along four subgroups, showing the competitive behavior of all the subjects.
In balancing relationship and career demands, the following was found:
No woman was willing to give up her career entirely.
Self-esteem appeared to increase with career success.
The women used delegation.
The women found relief from stress by getting involved in their work.
The women were able to compartmentalize their roles so that one did not impinge on another.
Those women in a current relationship tended to have supportive significant others.
By Yara Martini
