Abstract
Objectives The purpose of this study was to clarify and compare components of life satisfaction between full-time working women and housewives in an urban city using covariance structural analysis.
Methods A total of 165 community women were identified from the 2003 survey of life conditions in Kawasaki city. By using covariance structural analysis, the relationships between life satisfaction and three latent variables, 『gender role consciousness』 (『 』 indicates latent variable), 『self-efficacy』 and 『support from family or friends』 were analyzed within the context of working style.
Results The correlation between 「life satisfaction」 (「 」 indicates observed variable) and the three latent variables was shown to be valid with CFI=0.878, RMSEA=0.029. Thirty percent of 「Life satisfaction」 for full-time working women and 62% for housewives was explained by the three latent variables; 『self-efficacy』, 『support from family or friends』 and 『gender role consciousness』. This new analysis, including an indirect effect model, revealed that low 『gender role consciousness』 and high 『self-efficacy』 directly led to high 「life satisfaction」 in full-time working women, and low 「life satisfaction」 in housewives with significance. On the other hand, it was shown that high 『support from family or friends』 indirectly led to high 「life satisfaction」 in full-time working women without significance.
Conclusion We found that factors contributing to life satisfaction differ between full-time working women and housewives in an urban city based on working style. Our study suggests that the different support systems are important components of working style.
