The DOI matches its Crossref record; 28 of the 29 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Multiple Social Roles and Well-Being: A Longitudinal Test of the Role Stress Theory and the Role Expansion Theory
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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“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
Citations
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Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Nordenmark, M., Swedish Sociological Association Conference in Karlstad
- SOU, 1998, Ty makten är din... Myten of den rationella arbetslivet och det jä mställda Sverige
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Parenthood and welfare outcomes in late-twentieth-century Sweden
Nilsson, K. (2010) · The History of the Family · doi:10.1016/j.hisfam.2009.12.005
An Identity Theory of Role Exit among Soccer Referees
Milne, J. S. (2006) · VTechWorks (Virginia Tech)
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Ramm, E., & Svensson, A. (2006) · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library)
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Work-life balance and well-being in a group of women adult learners in Higher Education
Smith, J. (2018) · UBIR (University of Greater Manchester)
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van Hedel, K., Moustgaard, H., Myrskylä, M., & Martikainen, P. (2021) · doi:10.4054/mpidr-wp-2021-015
The Influence of Work-Family Trajectories on Life Satisfaction of Retired Women
Tambellini, E. (2022) · Journal of Population Ageing · doi:10.1007/s12062-021-09355-1
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Yugi, A. M., Njeje, D., & Mwangi, E. (2023) · Journal of Human Resource &Leadership · doi:10.53819/81018102t5215
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Yugi, A. M., Njeje, D., & Mwangi, E. (2023) · Journal of Human Resource &Leadership · doi:10.53819/81018102t5214
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Qin, M., Jiang, Z., Li, Y., & Qiu, S. (2026) · International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103917
Déterminants Psychosociaux et Culturels du Burnout Maternel et des Symptômes Dépressifs Périnataux
Loyal, D. (2017) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b75c149azf972z4693zb2c9z47d29b2f2407
Jumani, I. A. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/75626dcezfe6cz4e7ezb2daz5da7a3fa32d5 · Cited by 1
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Duan, T., Zou, X., Zeng, L., Chen, J., Li, Q., & Chen, C. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1922345
Governance of Shareholder Expropriation for REITs under Shareholders’ Investor–Operator Dual Roles
Wu, H., Sun, H., Liang, Y., & Wang, Y. (2026) · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · doi:10.1061/jcemd4.coeng-17434
Comparison of Caregiver Burden among Types and Stages of Dementia
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Metadata
- 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
- 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
- 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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