Convergence in Sleep Time Accomplished? Gender Gap in Sleep Time for Middle-Aged Adults in Korea

Seung-Eun Cha and Ki-Soo Eun
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Seung-Eun Cha: Department of Child and Family Welfare, University of Suwon, 17 Wauangill, Bongdam-eup, Hwasung-si, Gyounggi-do 18323, Korea
Ki-Soo Eun: Graduate School of International Studies, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Although the gender gap in sleep time has narrowed significantly in the last decade, middle-aged women between ages 35 and 60 still sleep less than their male counterparts in Korea. This study examines and provides evidence for factors contributing to the gender gap in this age group. Using Korean Time Use Survey (KTUS) data from 2004, 2009 and 2014, we find that middle-aged women’s difficulty in managing work-life balance and traditional role expectations placed upon women are the main causes of the gender gap in sleep time. The decomposition analysis reveals that the improved socioeconomic status and recent changes in familial expectations for women may have helped them sleep more than in the past. However, there remain fundamental differences in attitude and time use patterns between men and women that prevent middle-aged women from getting the same amount of sleep.

Keywords: gender gap in sleep time; quality of life; sleep trend; time use; work-life balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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