A Comparative Analysis of Self-Esteem and Marital Satisfaction Across Employment Status and Gender

This study investigates the self-esteem and marital satisfaction outcomes associated with employment statuses, drawing on the perspectives of role accumulation theory and role strain theory. For this purpose, a sample of 156 married individuals aged 18 to 60 years (M = 36, SD = 7.25) were recruited from various cities in Pakistan via an online survey. By administering the Couple Satisfaction Index (Funk & Rogge, 2007) and Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), multiple comparisons have been made to assess the role of employment on marital relationship satisfaction and self-esteem. Consistent with the role accumulation hypothesis, employed men reported higher levels of marital satisfaction compared to their unemployed counterparts. Among women, the role strain theory received partial validation as marital satisfaction exhibited disparities between employed men and employed women. While men exhibited greater self-esteem than women, and employed individuals demonstrated higher self-esteem levels than their unemployed counterparts, the detailed comparative analysis did not yield any statistically significant differences in terms of self-esteem between employed and unemployed men or employed and unemployed women. The findings suggest that meaningful roles such as employment positively contribute to individuals' well-being. These findings provide new insights into the relationship between employment and psychological well-being, thereby aiding family counselors in addressing marital conflicts and providing valuable insights for employers seeking to promote work-life balance.