Masters Theses

Date of Award

3-1986

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter Jr.

Committee Members

Robert S. Dotson, Marion Mariner, Lewis Dickson

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge concerning the relationships of personal and family characteristics to Tennessee Homemakers' stress management. Five areas of stress management were identified for study. These were selected sources of stress, worry, guilt, satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Personal and family charac-teristics studied included extension audience, family structure, educational level, age and employment. Number and types of extension contacts and their relationships to stress management were also studied. Data were obtained from 2789 Tennessee homemakers randomly selected and interviewed by County Extension Home Economists. The one-way analysis of variance F-test and Chi Square were the statistical tests used to determine strength of relationships between variables. A probability level of .05 was considered as being statistically significant. Major findings included: 1. The largest percentages of survey participants were Home Demonstration Club Members, were married with children at home, had attended high school, were age 50-over, were married and only the husband was employed. 2. Meetings were the most frequent type of contact homemakers had with extension, this was followed by newsletters and telephone calls; while the least frequent type of extension contact was visits to the office. 3. A larger percentage of homemakers reported receiving infor-mation from extension agents on handling stress and tension than any other selected topic. 4. Findings indicated that the homemakers' most frequent source of stress was the need for more time to relax; the most frequent source of worry was rearing children; the most frequent source of guilt was not developing own talents; the most frequent source of satisfaction was the need to improve spiritual life; and the most frequent source of dissatisfaction was extent spouse helped with household chores. 5. A higher proportion of homemakers who were married with children, who had attended college, were 30-39 years old and employed (both married and single) indicated they needed more time to relax. 6. A higher proportion of homemakers who were 30-39 years old indicated they needed more time to relax, worried about rearing children, felt guilty about not spending enough time with spouse and felt they needed to improve family relationships than homemakers in any other age group. 7. Findings regarding extension audiences indicated that homemakers who were young non-club members had more stress and worry; EFNEP homemakers had more guilt feelings and a higher level of dissatisfaction. 8. Findings regarding family structures showed that homemakers who were married with no children had more stress; homemakers who were single with children had more worry and a low level of satisfaction; homemakers who were single, no children at home had more guilt. 9. Homemakers with lower levels of education tended to have more guilt, lower levels of satisfaction and higher levels of dissatis-faction than homemakers completing more grades of school. 10. Homemakers who were 30-39 years old indicated more stress, worry, guilt and the lowest level of satisfaction while homemakers age 50-over indicated the least amount of stress, worry, and guilt than any other age group studied. 11. Single, employed homemakers indicated more stress and worry; single, unemployed homemakers had more guilt and a lower level of satisfaction. 12. Homemakers having higher numbers of extension contacts tended to have lower scores on stress, worry, guilt, a higher level of satisfaction and a lower level of dissatisfaction. Implications were given and recommendations for extension programs and further studies were included.

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