Impact of Occupational Demands on Nonwork Experiences

Abstract

The authors examine the relationship between occupational demands and nonwork experiences of 127 senior administrators of correctional institutions.Eighteen occupational demands (e.g., complexity, ambiguity, overload, responsibility for people, and role conflict) were assessed. Dependent variables included negative-feeling states, marital and life satisfaction, satisfaction with home and family life, social participation, social support, psychosomatic symptoms, life style, and physical health. Regression analyses indicated that particular occupational demands were significantly related to negative nonwork experiences. Implications for stress management are discussed.Although great progress has been made in the past thirty years in understanding workers' experiences on the job (Dunnette, 1976), the field of organizational behavior has displayed relatively little interest in the work-family interface (Kanter, 1977). However, recent conditions have increased research and theoretical interest in the reciprocal effects of work and family. Important sources of impetus for this increase have been (1) the concern of national policy makers about the impact of the structure and availability of work on the quality of life; (2) growing awareness of changes

Work, family, and the child.

“…Furthermore, there is also abundant evidence that the worker's stress can have adverse consequences for the marital relationship, parent-child interactions, and child outcomes (Burke & Weir, 1981;Buss & Redburn, 1983;Elder, 1984;Parke & Collmer, 1975;Steinmetz & Straus, 1974;Werner & Smith, 1982).…”