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