The effect of women's achievement on dual-career couples and its relation to division of labor and marital adjustment

This study examined the variables of women's achievement as measured by income and its association of division of labor and marital adjustment. Couples were in one of three groups (1) the woman earned more income; (2) the couple earned about the same; and (3) the women earned less income than the man. The sample met the following criteria: (1) married at least 5 years; (2) aged 30 years or older; (3) residing in Central San Joaquin Valley; (4) employed full time; and (5) both spouses considered their employment as "careers.".;One hundred and eight dual-career couples from the Central San Joaquin Valley, California participated in this study. The sample was drawn from professional organizations, corporations, and professional settings. They represented a well educated, affluent group who had been married for an average of 15 years.;The statistically significant findings of this study suggest that couples in three income groups perceived the management of division of labor differently. There is strong evidence that when women earn more income than their spouse, the division of labor is altered in the direction of women doing less household labor. This group of women spent fewer hours per week along household labor compared to the other two groups. Finally, statistical significance was not found between marital adjustment and the interaction between relative income and division of labor.;Men in this study view themselves as significant participants in the management of household tasks. However, the results of this study indicate women in all three groups view themselves as doing more of the household labor than their spouses.;The findings have implications for clinical intervention with dual-career couple relationships. Practitioners need to be sensitive to issues facing this population. Intervention with dual-career couples requires that professionals examine their own belief system about gender roles and women's achievement.