This study aimed to assess the balance (gains & strains) between family and work from the mothers’ perspectives, in dual-earners families, with small children. We wanted to test if higher levels of fathers’ involvement in daily activities (care and socialization) would be associated with less conflict between work and family. Interactions with working hours were tested. Participants were 101 Portuguese dual-earners couples with children attending preschool. Mothers education ranged from primary school to a University degree (M = 14.38, SD = 3.66) and worked full time (M = 38.11, SD = 5.90). Fathers education ranged from primary school to a University degree (M = 12.90, SD = 4.07) and worked full time (M = 40.56, SD = 4.92). Instrument/Procedure: Mothers answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the “Combining Work and Family” (NICHD,1991; Martins et al.,2008) with three dimensions: Gains/Benefits From Work and Family, Strains from Work and Family and a global score associated with the Stress derived from balancing these two systems. Both mothers and fathers independently completed the “Parental Involvement Questionnaire: Child Care and Socialization Activities” (Monteiro et al.,2008) to assess the father’s relative involvement to the mother in 5 domains (Direct and Indirect Care; Play; Teaching/Discipline and Leisure Outside). A composite measure was computed by averaging both parents’ reports. Results showed a positive and significant association between fathers’ education and mothers gains/benefits [r(78) = .24, p = .03], as well as fathers’ involvement in Indirect Care [r(101) = .37, p = .00]. Multiple hierarchical regression models were conducted, including two blocks (mothers and fathers’ education and working hours, and fathers’ involvement domains) for Mothers Gains, Strains and Stress associated with the balance between work and family. For Gains, fathers Education was a significant predictor (b=.31, p=.05); for Strains, Fathers’ involvement in Direct Care (b = -.423, p = .018) was a significant predictor. For Stress related to balancing Work and Family, fathers involvement in Direct Care was a significant predictor (b = -.422, p = .020). No interactions were found. Results will be discussed considering the challenge for women in dual-earner families with small children, to balance work and family. The role of Fathers involvement and its implications to the facilitation and/or constraints will be discussed.

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• Psicologia - Ciências Sociais