HUSBANDS WORK INVOLVEMENT AND MARITAL ROLE PERFORMANCE

It is widely assumed that the more time husbands spend in work, the less fully and competently they perform marital roles. Multivariate analysis of survey data from a sample of 390 Seattle couples questions this assumption. Husbands' work time did not significantly decrease their participation in the housekeeper and therapeutic roles, nor their competence in the housekeeper, therapeutic, sexual, and recreation roles. Only husbands' sharing of the recreation role was significantly reduced by their work time. It is suggested that the effects of husbands' work time on marital role performance depend upon the role priorities and expectations of husbands and wives.