Patterns of Work and Family Involvement Among Single and Dual Earner Couples: Two Competing Analytical Approaches
Abstract
This study analyzes the intersection of work and family at the individual level (i.e. segmented, compensatory, and spillover models) and at the couple level (i.e. independent, all roles symmetric, all roles asymmetric, symmetric family - asymmetric work, and asymmetric family - symmetric work patterns). Dual earner couples (136) and housewives couples (103) were characterized according to each spouse's family and work involvement, attitudes, and behavior. At the individual level some support for each of the three models was found but no one model accounts for all the relationships studied and no subpopulation (i.e. employed women, men with employed women, men with housewives) can be said to follow any particular model than another. The results at the couples' level suggest that at least among dual-earner couples, family dynamics account for some of the variance in individuals' work and family attitudes and behaviors. Dual earner couples were characterized by six significant patterns of work and family involvement and single earner couples by four significant patterns. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA135055
Entities
People
- Jeanne Brett
- Sara Yogev
Organizations
- Northwestern University