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Work–Family Conflict and Well-Being Across Europe: The Role of Gender Context

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Abstract

This study analysed whether gender context is important to differences in the relationship between work–family conflict (WFC) and well-being across Europe. We hypothesised that in countries that support equality in work life and where norms support women’s employment, the relationship between WFC and low well-being is weaker than in countries with less support for gender equality. Cohabiting men and women aged 18–65 years from 25 European countries were selected from the European Social Survey. A multilevel analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between well-being and WFC, and two measurements were used to represent gender context: gender equality in work life and norms regarding women’s employment. Contrary to the hypothesis, the results showed that the negative relationship was stronger in countries with high levels of gender equality in work life and support for women’s employment than in countries with a relatively low level of gender equality in work life and support for traditional gender relations. The context in which gender is constructed may be important when studying the relationship between WFC and well-being. In addition, emphasis should be placed on policies that equalise both the labour market and the work performed at home.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the following grant sponsors: The Swedish Research Council and the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme, known as the SOPHIE project (Evaluating the Impact of Structural Policies on Health Inequalities and their Social Determinants, and Fostering Change).

Funding

This work was supported by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013, call Health-2011) under Grant 278173 (SOPHIE project) and the Swedish Research Council under Grant 421-2009-2153.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, 831 25, Östersund, Sweden

    Emma Hagqvist & Mikael Nordenmark

  2. Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, 851 70, Sundsvall, Sweden

    Katja Gillander Gådin

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  1. Emma Hagqvist
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  2. Katja Gillander Gådin
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  3. Mikael Nordenmark
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Correspondence to Emma Hagqvist.

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Hagqvist, E., Gådin, K.G. & Nordenmark, M. Work–Family Conflict and Well-Being Across Europe: The Role of Gender Context. Soc Indic Res 132, 785–797 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1301-x

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