Combination strategies and work–family interference among dual-earner couples in Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands

Abstract

In many contemporary families, both parents are involved in paid work and family responsibilities. This creates challenges for the successful reconciliation of work and family. In this study, we examined whether and how the division of paid work and unpaid work between partners is related to work–family interference. Analyses were based on survey data of 147 Finnish, 186 German, and 265 Dutch dual-earner couples with young children and show that there is no recipe for a division of paid work and unpaid work that guarantees a conflict-free reconciliation of work and family. Although some cultural variation was identified, in general, individual time spent on paid work and unpaid work appeared to be more decisive for parents’ level of work–family interference than couples’ combination strategies. Therefore, to help working parents it seems important to create opportunities to adjust their time spent on paid work and unpaid work.