Abstract

The aim of the present study is to identify the relationship between stressful life events and parental tension, and life satisfaction according to the heterosexual gender, and the economic level. And disclosure of the effect of stressful life events on these two-family variables in a sample of fathers in Irbid. The study sample consisted of (478) fathers and mothers, and the study used the stressful life events scale and the parental tension scale. The results showed a positive statistically significant relationship between stressful life events and parental tension, and that this relationship among fathers is stronger than that of mothers. And the existence of a statistically significant negative relationship between stressful life events and satisfaction with family life, and that this relationship among mothers is stronger than that of fathers. The results also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the level of stressful life events and parental tension. While there were statistically significant differences in the level of satisfaction with family life due to the gender variable in favor of mothers. The results also showed a statistically significant difference between the averages of parents' estimates on the two measures of stressful life events and parental stress in favor of the low economic level. While it came in favor of the high economic level of life satisfaction. With regard to stressful life events that predicted parental stress in both sexes, it was found that all dimensions were positive predictors. As for stressful life events that predicted satisfaction with family life for both sexes, it was found that all dimensions were negative predictors.