Satisfaction With Work-Life Balance: Couples with Egalitarian Practices in their Transition to First-Time Parenthood in Spain

[EN] This study analyses dual-earner couples’ subjective satisfaction with work-life balance after having their first child. We draw on a longitudinal qualitative analysis of 31 Spanish couples who showed an egalitarian division of housework prior to childbirth. Participating couples were interviewe...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: González Carlos, María José, Lapuerta, Irene, Martín García, Teresa, Seiz Puyuelo, Marta
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/219698
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/219698
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Work-Life Balance
Couples’ Subjective Satisfaction
Childcare
Transition to Parenthood
Équilibre vie professionnelle-vie privée
Satisfaction subjective des couples
Garde d’enfant
Transition vers la parentalité
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] This study analyses dual-earner couples’ subjective satisfaction with work-life balance after having their first child. We draw on a longitudinal qualitative analysis of 31 Spanish couples who showed an egalitarian division of housework prior to childbirth. Participating couples were interviewed during pregnancy and about 18 months after the birth. We analysed individuals’ subjective feelings of satisfaction with the way that childcare was organised. The study reveals that half of the couples moved towards a traditional gender division of childcare, but that this did not necessarily entail dissatisfaction with work-life balance. Satisfaction with work-life balance is less dependent on specific arrangements than on whether initial expectations are fulfilled