Question

Mary works full-time at an office downtown while her young children stay at a neighbor’s house. She’s just learned that the childcare provider is leaving the country. Mary has succumbed to pressure to volunteer at her church, plus her ailing mother-in-law will be moving in with her next month. Which of the following is likely to occur as Mary tries to balance her existing and new responsibilities?

Role conflict
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Status conflict
Status strain

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. Role Strain

Step-by-step explanation:

In sociology, role strain occurs when an individual feels she or he is unable to fit with one or more roles which lead to frustration, distress, and other negative feelings as expectations or responsibilities are not achieved. Additionally, this differs from role conflict because in role conflict the roles of different individuals clash, and from status strain and status conflict as these deal with social status rather than social roles. Considering this, in the case of Mary it is probable she experiences Role strain as she is going through to changes including that she will volunteer in church, her mother-in-law will move with her and the childcare provider is leaving and all these changes imply Mary would have difficulties in achieving the expectations and responsibilities as a mother, volunteer, and daughter-in-law and she might feel she is unable to fit successfully in all these roles which is what occurs in role strain.