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Cited by 124Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionHealth disparities and outcomesWork-Family Balance Challenges

Multiple Social Roles and Well-Being: A Longitudinal Test of the Role Stress Theory and the Role Expansion Theory

Nordenmark, Mikael·2004·Acta Sociologica
DOI 10.1177/0001699304043823
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Abstract

In general, Western societies believe that people should engage in a multitude of social activities and develop multiple social roles. The assumption is that having multiple roles is beneficial to the individual. However, it also means that life is more complex and that people have to handle sometimes conflicting demands. Earlier research on the effects of multiple roles on individual well-being has not provided a clear picture, some results supporting the role stress theory and some the role expansion theory. This article tests empirically the relevance of the role stress theory and the role expansion theory by analysing whether having multiple social roles in general decreases or increases individual well-being. The results are based on a panel study of nearly 9000 randomly selected Swedes. The conclusion is that both number of social roles and any increase in social roles are negatively correlated with the risk of suffering from insomnia and a lingering illness, and the risk of being on regular medication for a lingering illness. These findings indicate that having multiple social roles increases individual well-being; the results therefore support the role expansion theory.

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Crossref · 10.1177/0001699304043823

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  • While role strain can occur with too many social roles, in general, having many work and social roles predicts better mental and physical health.

    “While role strain can occur with too many social roles, in general, having many work and social roles predicts better mental and physical health (Nordenmark, 2004).”

    From More than a feeling: A unified view of stress measurement for population science (2018) · cites this paper as Nordenmark, 2004

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Authors
Nordenmark, M.
Affiliations
Umeå University (SE)
Corresponding author
Nordenmark, Mikael
ORCID
Nordenmark, Mikael
Venue
Acta Sociologica
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2004-06
Volume
47
Issue
2
Pages
115-126
ISSN
  • 0001-6993 (ISSN-L)
  • 1502-3869
DOI
10.1177/0001699304043823
OpenAlex
W1972992823
Cited by
124
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
Acta Sociologica (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
  • Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education
  • Center for Advanced Study, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Work-Family Balance Challenges
Keywords
well-being, role conflict, insomnia, chronic disease, medication use

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