Working and Studying Israeli Parents: Experiences in Multiple Role Interfaces

Abstract

The relationships between role conflict, role enrichment, role balance, and well-being were explored among 256 Israeli parents. The sample included 161 women and 95 men who simultaneously fulfilled three roles: parenthood, work, and school, engaging in three interconnected systems: family-work, family-school, and work-school. In all systems, role conflict was negatively correlated with sense of role balance and positively with role enrichment. Low role balance in the family-work system was less detrimental to well-being than in the other two systems. Women experienced lower role balance in all three systems, and higher role conflict in the family-school system. No gender difference was found in the experience of role enrichment. Based on the research conclusions, practical implications for career development and organizational practice are suggested.