Daily hassles in the family-work system and life satisfaction: the moderating effect of sexual satisfaction

The main aim of the present study was to examine whether sexual satisfaction moderates the negative impact of daily hassles in the family-work system on life satisfaction from a comparative perspective: men versus women. The examined daily hassles included the experience of work-family role conflict and the assessment of relative economic deprivation. Data were collected from a representative sample of 276 heterosexual Israeli participants (136 men and 140 women), via structured questionnaires. Sexual satisfaction was positively related to life satisfaction and negatively to the work-family role conflict among both genders. Work-family role conflict was negatively related to life satisfaction. No relationship was found between the assessment of relative economic deprivation and life satisfaction among women with high levels of sexual satisfaction, whereas the assessment of relative economic deprivation among women with low levels of sexual satisfaction was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction. These relationships were not found among men. The findings highlight sexual satisfaction as a resource for coping with daily hassles resulting from economic deprivation, especially among women. Theoretical and practical implications of the research are discussed in light of the findings.