A Longitudinal Analysis of Parenthood and Work Time Fragmentation: The Role of Gender and Employment Status
Methods. Using longitudinal data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) 2003-2023, negative binomial regression models are employed to assess the impact of parenthood on work time fragmentation among individuals in paid work, with a focus on the interaction between parenthood, gender, and employment status to better understand how these factors shape time-use patterns in the labor force.
Results. Our findings reveal that parenthood significantly increases work time fragmentation by 2.8%. Gender-specific analysis reveals that parenthood leads to a 3.9% increase in work time fragmentation for women, while no significant effect is observed for men. Moreover, the interaction between parenthood and employment status shows that non-professional women experience a 3.8% increase in fragmentation, whereas professional women do not experience significant changes. For men, the interaction between parenthood and employment status is not statistically significant. The findings suggest that while both mothers and fathers face time fragmentation, the burden is disproportionately borne by non-professional women, reflecting traditional gender norms in the division of labor.
Conclusions. These findings provide crucial insights into the relationship between parenthood and work time fragmentation, with implications for policies aimed at supporting working parents. The study underscores the need for gender-sensitive workplace policies, particularly for non-professional women, who face greater challenges in managing fragmented work schedules due to parenthood. Addressing these disparities could improve work-life balance and overall well-being for parents.