Time Deficits With Children and Spouses Among U.S. Employed Parents, 1992–2008

Kei Nomaguchi , Bowling Green State University
Melissa Milkie, University of Toronto
Justina Beard, Bowling Green State University
Cassandra Thompson, Bowling Green State University

Having enough time with family members is a heartfelt concern, with majorities of working parents reporting deficits. Using the National Study of the Changing Workforce (NSCW), we examine change in employed parents’ expressed time deficits with children and spouses across four time points, from 1992 to 2008, a period when parents increased time with children. The percentage reporting time deficits with children increased from 66% in 1992 to 74% in 2008. Notably, greater felt deficits in 2008 remain significant, even controlling for demographic and job characteristics, and quantity of time with children and in housework. Feelings of time deficits with spouses increased from 58% in 1992 to 73% in 2008; and, similar to time deficits with children, time deficits with spouses in more recent years remain significant even controlling for time allocations. Obtaining “enough” time for cherished family members—already a social problem—may be getting more difficult for employed parents.

See paper

 Presented in Session 160. Perceptions of Time Use and Individual Well-being