EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND WELL-BEING OF MIDLIFE WOMEN - ROLE-SPECIFIC MASTERY AS A MEDIATIONAL MECHANISM

This study examined the relationships among emotional support, mastery , and well-being for 258 women who simultaneously occupied the roles o f wife, mother, parent care provider, and employee. Its primary aim wa s to determine if a greater sense of mastery in each of these 4 roles could explain the relationship between emotional support from the part ner or partners in the same role (the husband, children, impaired pare nt, or work supervisor) and better psychological well-being (less depr essive symptomatology and more life satisfaction). Findings revealed t hat more emotional support from each of the 4 role partners was relate d to a greater sense of mastery in that same role. Furthermore, for ea ch of the roles of wife, mother, and employee, role-specific mastery w as a mediating mechanism in the relationship between support from the role partner or partners and better well-being.