Data Connections Activity
21.1 Synopsis1 of 5
Welcome
Balancing Work and Family
Current data show that children in the United States are much more likely to have two working parents than in previous decades, and that in about half of all two-parent families, both parents work full time. This activity examines how well these parents say they balance their careers with their family responsibilities.
Click the 'Get Started' button below to start this activity
21.2 Balancing Work and Family2 of 5
Balancing Work and Family
In the United States in 2015, more than half (56 percent) of employed parents with children under age 18 said that they struggle to balance their jobs and family obligations. Parents’ gender and level of education had an impact on their response, as shown in the graph below.
Data from Parker et al., November 5, 2015.
21.3 Balancing Work and Family3 of 5
Balancing Work and Family
Although only 9 percent of working parents reported that parenting is stressful for them all of the time, those who reported difficulty balancing work and family were more likely to feel stressed by their role as parents than they were to find it enjoyable all of the time. Furthermore, those parents were also less likely to say being a parent is rewarding all of the time.
Click on each button to see the percentage of those who said parenting was either "enjoyable" or "rewarding," or "tiring" or "stressful," based on their level of difficulty balancing work and family.
Data from Parker et al., November 5, 2015.
21.4 Balancing Work and Family4 of 5
Balancing Work and Family
Some say that the stress of balancing jobs and family comes from an individual's poor management and unrealistic expectations, and some say it comes from the social context, such as the economic pressures and cultural values. Think of several changes, some personal and some in the larger society, that could reduce the stress. Based on your knowledge of adult development, evaluate how feasible and how helpful your suggested changes would be.
21.5 Activity Completed!5 of 5
Congratulations! You have completed this activity. You have received a provisional score for your essay answer, which has been submitted to your instructor.
REFERENCES
Parker, Kim; Horowitz, Juliana Menasce & Rohal, Molly. (2015, November 4). Raising kids and running a household: How working parents share the load. Social & Demographic Trends. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.