Het combineren van meerdere rollen onder ouderen: Vermindert of verbetert dit het welbevinden?

Translated title of the contribution: Combining multiple roles by older adults: Does it reduce or enhance wellbeing?

F. M. Bijnsdorp*, B. Suanet, M. I. Broese Van Groenou

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Older adults increasingly combine employment with informal care and/or voluntary work. This is good for society but raises the question whether combining multiple roles is also good for individual well-being. Based on data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (N = 1885), associations between role combinations, role intensity (in employment, informal care and volunteering) and well-being are examined using role enhancement and role strain perspectives. We investigate if social network and mastery (the feeling of control over his or her life) buffer potential negative effects of role combinations and role intensity on well-being. Intensive informal care is related with more depressive symptoms, which is fully mediated by mastery. Fulltime employment is related with lower levels of depressive symptoms, and this is fully mediated by mastery. Social network size does not mediate any relationship between role combinations or role intensities and depressive symptoms. Both parttime and fulltime employment are negatively related to depressive symptoms. The study suggests that combining roles is positively related to well-being when role strain is low. Interventions should be directed at maintaining mastery among those providing intensive informal care, in particular when combined with employment and/or volunteering.

Translated title of the contributionCombining multiple roles by older adults: Does it reduce or enhance wellbeing?
Original languageDutch
Pages (from-to)111-137
Number of pages27
JournalMens en Maatschappij
Volume93
Issue number2
Early online date1 Jun 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2018

Keywords

  • Employment
  • Informal care
  • Role theory
  • Voluntary work
  • Well-being

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