Revisiting the link between domain satisfaction and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: Job-related moderators in triadic analysis in dual-earner parents with adolescent children

Abstract

IntroductionResearch has evaluated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on individuals' life satisfaction, but wellbeing interrelations between family members in this context have been less explored. This study examined the spillover and crossover effects of one parent's job satisfaction (JS), satisfaction with family life (SWFaL) and satisfaction with food-related life (SWFoL) on their own, their partner's, and their adolescent children's life satisfaction (LS), and the influence of adolescents' SWFaL and SWFoL on their own and their parents' LS, in dual-earner families with adolescents. The moderating role of job-related variables of both parents were also explored.MethodsQuestionnaires were administered to 860 dual-earner parents with adolescents in two cities in Chile during 2020. Mothers and fathers answered the Overall Job Satisfaction Scale and the three family members answered the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Satisfaction with Family Life Scale and the Satisfaction with Food-related Life Scale.ResultsUsing the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model and structural equation modeling, we found that fathers' LS was positively associated with their own JS, SWFaL and SWFoL (spillover), and negatively with adolescents' SWFoL (crossover). Likewise, mothers' LS was positively associated with their own JS, SWFaL and SWFoL (spillover), with fathers' and adolescents' SWFaL, and negatively with adolescents' SWFoL. Adolescents' LS was positively associated with their own SWFaL and SWFoL (spillover), and with their fathers' JS, and negatively with their fathers' SWFoL. JS showed gendered patterns in spillover and crossover associations. Parents' type of employment, mothers' working hours and city of residence moderated some spillover and crossover associations for father-mother and parent-adolescent dyads.DiscussionThese findings suggest that, for dual-earner parents with adolescents, improving individuals' LS requires interventions that should be carried out not individually, but at a family level.

Intra- and Inter-Individual Associations of Family-to-Work Conflict, Psychological Distress, and Job Satisfaction: Gender Differences in Dual-Earner Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Contrary to expectations [17,50], the resource loss by one parent facing high family demands did not cross over to the other parent's job satisfaction (H4 not supported). This result may be explained considering that when actor effects are weak, as in the present study, it is likely that partner effects do not exist [14], as was previously reported in dyadic studies with dual-earner couples [e.g., [17,18]]. However, our findings are consistent with results reported by Yucel and Latshaw [36], which may be related to the fact that partner effects may be indirect effects mediated by other variables [14].…”

“…Respondents indicated their degree of agreement with each statement using a five-point Likert scale (1: completely disagree; 5: completely agree). The Spanish version of the OJSS scale was used, which has been validated and has shown good internal consistency in studies with couples in Chile [16,18]. OJSS scores were obtained by totaling the scores from the six items, with higher scores representing higher job satisfaction (score range 6-30).…”

“…In this region, culture and the still-present traditional gender roles may account for different work-family interface experiences and effects between fathers and mothers than those previously reported in developed countries. This approach fills in the gaps in the literature and adds new insights into the relationship between FtoWC and job satisfaction [16][17][18].…”

“…Chile is a developing country with a relatively collectivistic culture that places great importance on family, regardless of the parent's gender, in dual-earner couples with adolescents [18]. Chile has many sociocultural factors that influence how families cope with the family-work conflict and the implications of that conflict.…”

Life satisfaction in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among middle school adolescents in France: findings from a repeated cross-sectional survey (EnCLASS, 2012–2021)

“…Parental employment and family structure were measured in 2021 and could have changed between 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, some other factors related to parents were not measured in this study and may have had a differential impact on the life satisfaction of adolescents since the beginning of the pandemic (e.g., domestic violence ( 38 ), life satisfaction of parents ( 39 )). Other confounding factors could explain the differences in the fluctuation of life satisfaction between girls and boys, such as the division of domestic tasks ( 6 ).…”