The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) on individuals' reported performance in the parent, spouse/partner, and worker social roles. Data from this study, collected for the disenfranchised and elite, were pooled with SES levels (working, middle, and upper) from a previous study to enable the researcher to obtain comparative data across the five SES levels. A quota sample of adults from Tampa Bay was obtained for each of the three social roles consisting of equal numbers of adult men and women in three age groups: 18-34 years, 35-61 years, and 62 years and older. Based on an individual's reported behaviors, skills, and attitudes in a role, trained raters assigned a performance score based on these levels: low 0-1, below average 2-3, medium 4-5, above average 6-7, and high 8-9.
The analysis of the data revealed a main effect for SES in each of the three social roles of parent, spouse/partner, and worker. The disenfranchised performance ratings were statistically different from the elite in all three roles. In general, an increase in performance mean was associated with an increase in the SES level for all roles.
An interaction effect for age and gender was present only in the parent role. Young males and older males performed at higher levels in the parent role than did females. Middle-aged males earned lower scores than middle-aged females. Post hoc tests revealed no significant differences between males and females in any age level. An interaction effect for age and SES was present only in the worker role. Findings from this study showed that an increase in SES levels correlated with an increase in performance ratings when the upper SES groups were compared to the lower SES groups. The effects of educational levels and income were greater for the disenfranchised than for the elite. Subsequent research could address the factors that contribute to elite older women choosing not to remain in the workforce beyond 62 years of age.
