2026-05-01T04:07:32Z https://datacatalogue.cessda.eu/oai-pmh/v0/oai

286b2bce174490b4a1d410ccce37bd91abf1fbb48984187678b814293e889ae4 2025-06-17T03:14:41Z language:enopenaire_data

DDI study level documentation for study 10.7802/1628 Code: How working hours influence the life satisfaction of childless men and women, fathers and mothers in Germany Code: How working hours influence the life satisfaction of childless men and women, fathers and mothers in Germany Code: How working hours influence the life satisfaction of childless men and women, fathers and mothers in Germany 10.7802/162810.7802/162810.7802/162810.7802/1628 Schröder, Martin Schröder, Martin GESIS Data Archive for the Social SciencesGESIS Datenarchiv für Sozialwissenschaften This paper uses the German Socio-Economic Panel to show that fathers – and to a lesser degree childless men and women, are most satisfied with life when working full-time or longer. In contrast, whether mothers spend more or less hours in employment hardly affects their life satisfaction. The rational maximization of income as postulated by family economics cannot explain these results, as they are even found in households where women earn more than men. Because they are also found among those who hold secure jobs and have very little household work and childcare duties, these results contradict the predictions by expansionist role theory that men and women are better off in egalitarian employment arrangements. The results change little over time, with cohorts or with educational group-membership. For men, the results therefore fit best with the predictions of traditional role theory, which suggests that people are most satisfied when adhering to stereotypical gender roles.This paper uses the German Socio-Economic Panel to show that fathers – and to a lesser degree childless men and women, are most satisfied with life when working full-time or longer. In contrast, whether mothers spend more or less hours in employment hardly affects their life satisfaction. The rational maximization of income as postulated by family economics cannot explain these results, as they are even found in households where women earn more than men. Because they are also found among those who hold secure jobs and have very little household work and childcare duties, these results contradict the predictions by expansionist role theory that men and women are better off in egalitarian employment arrangements. The results change little over time, with cohorts or with educational group-membership. For men, the results therefore fit best with the predictions of traditional role theory, which suggests that people are most satisfied when adhering to stereotypical gender roles. GermanyGermany Population aged 18-65 SOEP samplingSOEP sampling InterviewInterview Free access (with registration) - The research data can be downloaded by registered users. CC BY 4.0: Namensnennung (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.de)Freier Zugang (mit Registrierung) - Die Forschungsdaten können von allen registrierten Nutzerinnen und Nutzern heruntergeladen werden. CC BY 4.0: Namensnennung (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.de) http://dbkapps.gesis.org/dbkoai/oai.asp oai:dbk.gesis.org:SDN/10.7802_1628 2023-03-11 ddi:codebook:2_5