A1 Journal article (refereed)
Like ships passing in the night? Nonstandard work schedules and spousal satisfaction in Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (2020)
Eine Nacht – zwei Schiffe? Unregelmäßige Arbeitszeiten und Zufriedenheit in der Ehe in Finnland, den Niederlanden und dem Vereinigten Königreich
Malinen, K., Rönkä, A., & Sevón, E. (2020). Like ships passing in the night? Nonstandard work schedules and spousal satisfaction in Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Journal of Family Research, 32(2), 192-213. https://doi.org/10.20377/jfr-359
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Malinen, Kaisa; Rönkä, Anna; Sevón, Eija
Journal or series: Journal of Family Research
ISSN: 2699-2337
eISSN: 2699-2337
Publication year: 2020
Volume: 32
Issue number: 2
Pages range: 192-213
Publisher: University of Bamberg Press
Publication country: Germany
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20377/jfr-359
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68208
Abstract
This study examined the associations of work schedules and spousal satisfaction among Finnish (n = 347), Dutch (n = 304) and British (n = 337) parents. In addition to comparing parents with nonstandard schedule with parents in regular day work, the study examined separately the roles played in spousal satisfaction of morning, evening, night and weekend work and other working time-related variables (working hours, changes in and influence over one’s work schedules and spouse’s work schedule). The three-country data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with a multigroup procedure in Mplus. Little evidence for negative associations of work schedules and related factors with spousal satisfaction was found among the present European employees. No between-country differences were found in the examined associations. The quantitative analyses were supplemented with content analysis of parents’ descriptions of the experienced effects of their working times on their spousal relationship. Parents described their working times mostly as having a negative influence on their possibilities of being together, organization of daily life, psychological and physiological reactions and spousal communication. Some, however, also mentioned benefits and finding solutions to problems related to their working times.
Keywords: working hours; shift work; night work; family relations; spouses; contentment; cross-cultural research; content analysis; structural equation models
Free keywords: content analysis; cross-cultural; nonstandard working times; spousal satisfaction; structural equation modeling; work schedules
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2020
JUFO rating: 1