This study examined the relation between parental status and marital adjust
ment of employed individuals. The sample consisted of 91 individuals-47 emp
loyed wives and 44 employed husbands. This study found that men with childr
en reported higher levels of marital adjustment compared to men without chi
ldren and women with and without children. Overall, women with children rep
orted lower levels of marital adjustment compared to women without children
and men with and without children. The study also investigated the potenti
al moderating effects of social support on the relation between parental st
atus and marital adjustment. As expected, women with children who reported
lower social support were more vulnerable to lower marital adjustment than
were other groups of women. Level of social support was not a moderator for
men. It also was found that affective support had moderating effects, but
no such effects were evident for instrumental support.