Beyond the Individual: Unraveling the Couple-Level Effects of Working Time Mismatch on Work-Life Outcomes Among Working Parents

Ya Guo and Senhu Wang ()
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Ya Guo: National University of Singapore
Senhu Wang: National University of Singapore

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2025, vol. 177, issue 1, No 7, 153-177

Abstract: Abstract Despite ample research on the association between working time mismatch and work-life outcomes from an individual perspective, little has explored the dyadic correlation from a couple-level perspective among working parents. Using fixed effects models and longitudinal dyadic data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, this study examines the influence of working time mismatch of husbands and wives on their own and each other’s work-life outcomes (e.g., work-life enrichment, work-life conflict), thereby shedding light on crossover effects in work-life dynamics among working parents. The study reveals that overemployment is significantly associated with worse work-life outcomes for both mothers and fathers. Additionally, noticeable gender differences in spousal effects are observed: mothers’ overemployment significantly worsens their husbands’ work-life outcomes, and their underemployment notably improves it. In contrast, fathers’ working time mismatch does not significantly affect their wives’ work-life outcomes. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the negative effects of overemployment on both personal and spousal work-life outcomes persist, even for those with high job autonomy. Overall, this study underscores the dyadic association between couples’ working time mismatch and work-life outcomes among working parents, delineating an asymmetric dynamic. These findings suggest that policies aimed at reducing overemployment, addressing gender-specific challenges, and supporting flexible work arrangements are crucial for improving employee well-being in dual-earner households.

Keywords: Working time mismatch; Overemployment; Underemployment; Work-life enrichment; Work-life conflict; Job autonomy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03501-w

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