Beliefs about the success of dual-earner relationships: Toward the development of a normative beliefs measurement scale

Individuals' normative beliefs regarding the success of dual-career relationships have been acknowledged theoretically in the literature. However, empirical research is limited because no reliable measure has been developed to assess the construct. Using an iterative process we developed a measure to assess individuals' normative beliefs about the conditions necessary for successful dual-career relationships. Factor analyses revealed two dimensions characterizing the normative beliefs construct - egalitarian and traditional beliefs. The resulting subscales had acceptable reliabilities and were predictably related to several work-family variables. The implications of our findings are discussed and avenues for future research are suggested.