In this paper we use changes over time in respondents’ declared levels of satisfaction with their leisure time as a dependent variable indicating the subjective perception of ‘time stress’. We use time as a currency common to both the labour market and the household, and use the sample size and longitudinal character of the ECHP to enable us to capture sufficient life course events to compare the impact of labour market and care responsibilities (especially childbirth and childcare) upon men and women aged 25 to 45 who either were in, or had been in, couple relationships (whether married or cohabiting, mixed or same sex). 11 countries are analysed. Our dependent variable functions well and our results appear robust. They suggest that despite substantial evidence of the decline of the male breadwinner system there is still a striking contrast in the determinants of time stress by sex. Childbirth and the presence of pre school age children still has a much greater effect upon women than men, while type of contract and hours of work is relevant for both sexes, but with stronger effects for men. A key factor in reducing time stress is the way in which different national forms of labour market regulation permit both sexes, but especially women, to vary their hours of work over the life course. Finally, one of the most powerful determinants of what has sometimes been called ‘work life balance’ for both men and women is their satisfaction with paid work, or with their main activity (such as household duties, student etc). Job satisfaction immunises even those with both care responsibilities and long work hours from time stress. The ECHP data suggest that there is still a substantial sexual division of labour between paid work and childcare obligations, but that the total hours devoted to these activities, and the overall degree of satisfaction with their amount of leisure time varies little between men and women.

Time Stress, Well-being and the Double Burden

NAZIO, Tiziana;
2007-01-01

Abstract

In this paper we use changes over time in respondents’ declared levels of satisfaction with their leisure time as a dependent variable indicating the subjective perception of ‘time stress’. We use time as a currency common to both the labour market and the household, and use the sample size and longitudinal character of the ECHP to enable us to capture sufficient life course events to compare the impact of labour market and care responsibilities (especially childbirth and childcare) upon men and women aged 25 to 45 who either were in, or had been in, couple relationships (whether married or cohabiting, mixed or same sex). 11 countries are analysed. Our dependent variable functions well and our results appear robust. They suggest that despite substantial evidence of the decline of the male breadwinner system there is still a striking contrast in the determinants of time stress by sex. Childbirth and the presence of pre school age children still has a much greater effect upon women than men, while type of contract and hours of work is relevant for both sexes, but with stronger effects for men. A key factor in reducing time stress is the way in which different national forms of labour market regulation permit both sexes, but especially women, to vary their hours of work over the life course. Finally, one of the most powerful determinants of what has sometimes been called ‘work life balance’ for both men and women is their satisfaction with paid work, or with their main activity (such as household duties, student etc). Job satisfaction immunises even those with both care responsibilities and long work hours from time stress. The ECHP data suggest that there is still a substantial sexual division of labour between paid work and childcare obligations, but that the total hours devoted to these activities, and the overall degree of satisfaction with their amount of leisure time varies little between men and women.
2007
Family Formation and Family Dilemmas in Contemporary Europe,
Fundación BBVA
155
184
9788496515352
fertility; family formation; employment; Europe; demography; work-life balance; Time Stress; Well-being; Double Burden; gender
T Nazio; J MacInnes
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/53603
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