Full Citation
Title: Do the Quantity and Quality of Time Couples Share Differ by Household Income?
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2020
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DOI: 10.26153/tsw/12314
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Abstract: One theorized explanation for the disparity in divorce rates between low- and higher-income couples is a difference in the amount of time couples spend together. Time is an important component of relationship maintenance but increasing demands outside of the home are decreasing the amount of shared time between spouses (Nomaguchi, Milkie, Beard, & Thompson, 2019). Low-income couples may experience the greatest time deficits as they face a greater number of stressors that take up time, diminishing the quantity of time they have available. They may also need to use the time they do have available to deal with stressors rather than engaging in more enjoyable leisure-like activities, diminishing the quality of time they share. Using a sample of N = 26,557 respondents from the American Time Use Survey, the current study examined whether household income was associated with how much time married couples spend together, and how happy and how stressed respondents reported feeling while spending time with their spouse. Results indicated that low-income couples spent more time together overall, and more time together in leisure activities, and reported greater levels of happiness and stress during shared time compared to higher earning couples. Although these findings provide evidence that low-income couples do not lack shared time together, spending time at home with one’s spouse may not be beneficial if that time is characterized by high levels of stress, suggesting that quality of time may be more important in understanding the disparity in divorce rates between low- and higher-income couples.
Url: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/85350
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Schouweiler, Megan
Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
Department: Human Development and Family Sciences
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Data Collections: IPUMS Time Use - ATUS
Topics: Family and Marriage, Other, Work, Family, and Time
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