Work

Measuring Maternal Nonstandard Work in Survey Data

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Surveys differ in the measurement of nonstandard work, such that some surveys require respondents to indicate whether they work either a standard or a nonstandard schedule, whereas others allow respondents to indicate that they work both types of schedules. We test whether these measurement decisions influence the estimated prevalence of maternal nonstandard work, using data from two sources: the Current Population Survey (N = 1,430) and the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2,524). Using propensity score techniques, we find that giving respondents the option of reporting work at more than one type of schedule doubles the prevalence of nonstandard work, compared to allowing respondents to indicate only one type of schedule. Our results suggest that many mothers of young children regularly work at both standard and nonstandard times and that mutually exclusive conceptualizations of standard and nonstandard work schedules do not fully capture their experiences.

Source: Journal of Marriage and the Family

DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12017

Authors: Rachel Dunifon, Ariel Kalil, Danielle A. Crosby, Jessica Houston Su, Thomas DeLeire

Institutions: Cornell University, University of Chicago, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Wisconsin System, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: Work-Family Balance Challenges

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development