Work Role and Health in a Sample of Spanish Women

In this study, the relationship between work role and health was analysed in a sample of 712 women from the Canary Islands. The women, who ranged in age from 18 to 65 years old (mean = 37.5; SD = 19.5), came from different socio-cultural and work backgrounds. The results of the study show that the most relevant variable in the well-being of these women was their work role satisfaction. The most satisfied women showed less anxiety and depression, and had higher self-esteem and a higher overall level of satisfaction. After adjusting for differences in age, no significant health differences remained among women with a different number of roles and different occupational status. We have concluded that a woman's well-being fundamentally rests in her opportunity to perform the work role she desires, without having to restrict herself to the traditional role of homemaker or being forced to become a high-achieving professional.