The Effects of Strain-Based Work–Parenting Conflict on Dual Income Couples’ Energy

Jensine Paoletti, Jaye L. Derrick, Christopher P. Fagundes and Kenneth E. Leonard
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Jensine Paoletti: Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
Jaye L. Derrick: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Christopher P. Fagundes: Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
Kenneth E. Leonard: Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Background: Gender differences between men’s and women’s parenting roles are well-documented as the “second shift”. We examined the main effects and interaction of work distress and parenting distress with energy (i.e., vigor) in a sample of 310 dual-income, different-sex couples with kids married for approximately nine years. (2) Methods: We used actor–partner interdependence modeling (APIM) to examine how spouses’ distress was associated with their energy. (3) Results: For both wives and husbands, there were negative associations between the actor’s parenting distress and their energy level and between the actor’s work distress and their energy level. However, only wives experienced a significant interaction of work and parenting distress such that high levels of both forms of distress were associated with low levels of energy, indicating that only wives experience this form of work–family conflict. (4) Conclusions: When women experience more strain at home than men, they may need more time to recover from their work and family duties. If they cannot do so, they will have less energy to carry out their responsibilities and may be at a higher risk of future adverse health outcomes.

Keywords: parenting; work–family conflict; strain; energy; actor–partner interdependence model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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