Study of life satisfaction between fulltime housewives and wives employed fulltime outside the home in the state of Oklahoma

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Differences in the perceived quality of life between working wives and housewives have been the subject of many studies. However, many of these studies are inconclusive and flawed. This study has attempted to determine these differences in perceived quality of life by analyzing various attitudinal responses and some moderating demographic variables. The 1979 State of Oklahoma Survey, a secondary data source, provided a population sample for the analysis. A "pooled variance estimate" T-Test was used to test for significant differences between the two groups of wives.

Findings and Conclusions: The results of this study failed to show major significant differences between dual wives and housewives. While not all variables were significant, all of the significant variables dealing with feelings about present life supported the viewpoint that dual wives have a more interesting, harder, worthwhile, full, hopeful, and enabling life. Dual wives were also more satisfied with their education. health, and life as a whole. Some variables showed that housewives in some demographic categories may be more satisfied with their neighborhood, life in the United States, housekeeping, spare time, standard of living, and savings and investments. From this analysis, it is concluded that no simple differences between the two groups exist. The significant differences are moderated by demographics and the specific aspects of life satisfaction under consideration.