A Role Transition Approach to the Stresses of Organizationally Induced Family Role Disruption

Abstract

The present study investigated the degree to which the role transitions model postulated by Burr (1972) could be used to explore the incompatibility between family and job role demands as a source ofjob-related stress. The sample consisted of 181 married sailors aboard four deployed U.S. Navy ships. These individuals responded to questionnaires about different aspects ofjob-role conflict and ambiguity, goal attainment facilitation, role strain, and family/work role incompatibility. Relationships among the various measures were assessed on both a concurrent and predictive basis employing correlational and hierarchical regression techniques. The results suggested that incompatibility between job and family demands is significantly related to the ease of the role transition process.