This review examines the literature on the effect of marriage and motherhood on women's psychological well-being. The paper discusses the impact of child rearing on life satisfaction and feelings of stress and considers the special problems of the working mother. Changing social attitudes surrounding a woman's role as wife and marital dissolution as another source of stress for women are investigated. The importance of support in the form of good child care arrangements and positive family attitudes are noted as two variables which can help reduce the stress of role conflict for working women. The role of mental health workers in dealing with stress is emphasized along with the importance of a systems approach to alleviate stress. (JAC)