Lifestyle satisfaction was examined in a seven‐state survey investigating the ef fects of off‐farm employment on farm families. Factor analysis determined that two factors identified as equity and financial security were dimensions of lifestyle satisfaction; and, for those who were parents, parenthood satisfaction formed a third dimension. A repeated measures analysis of variance on overall lifestyle satisfaction and on each underlying dimension determined that regardless of wives' employment status, wives were more satisfied with life overall than hus bands; wives were less satisfied than husbands with equity; and husbands were more satisfied with financial security than wives. The effects of husband and wife ages, type of farm organization, farm size, and presence of children at home were also investigated. Results suggest that employment of the farm wife in an off‐farm job has a different impact on men and women. Women's off‐farm employment appears to impact women's lifestyle satisfaction more than men's.
The purposes of this study were to explore the multiplicity of farm women's roles and to determine whether a particular role complex is related to lifestyle satisfac tion. Questionnaires were mailed to randomly selected farm families in seven states. Responses from 1,235 wives revealed that 13% functioned in five roles, 37% in four roles, 42% in three roles, and 8% in two roles. Wives from small farms were more likely to carry five role responsibilities. Education was positively re lated to number of roles, while age was negatively related. Although farm size, wives' off‐farm income, and length of marriage were significantly related to num ber of roles, the relationships were not linear. Number of roles negatively affected lifestyle satisfaction but not marital happiness. Lifestyle satisfaction was de creased by having an off‐farm‐work role and a parenting role, but not by a farm‐ work role. The number of roles was also related to both equity satisfaction and financial security. Younger wives, those with more education, and those from smaller farms are more likely to carry a quintet of roles. In conclusion, it appears that role load of farm wives reduces lifestyle satisfaction. Working off the farm reduces lifestyle satisfaction, but working on the farm does not. However, being a parent reduced lifestyle satisfaction, regardless of the type or number of work roles of the wife. Marital happiness remains independent of all variables in this study.
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