How Does Communal Strength Influence Work and Family Sacrifices Between Women and Men? The Role of Authenticity and Feeling Appreciated

This research (n = 487) extends prior research on relational sacrifices by analyzing the influence of communal strength on the perceived costs and benefits of making work and family sacrifices. It also analyzes the role of feeling authentic and appreciated by the partner for making these sacrifices in the perception. Regarding work sacrifices, the findings documented that those women (but not men) high in communal strength perceived greater benefits of making them because they felt more authentic and feeling greater partner appreciation. Concerning family sacrifices, the results revealed that communal strength did not predict the benefits of making these sacrifices. Nonetheless, we found that both women and men who felt more authentic after making a family sacrifice perceived more benefits because they experienced greater partner appreciation. In general, this pattern seems to reflect that women value family and work sacrifices, with the last ones triggered by the motivation to satisfy the needs of others (communal strength). In contrast, regardless of the communal strength, men continue to value only family sacrifices without considering work sacrifices.