Show simple item record

dc.rights.licenseCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.contributor.advisorCheung, T.T.L.
dc.contributor.authorHordijk, F.J.
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-20T19:01:18Z
dc.date.available2020-02-20T19:01:18Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.identifier.urihttps://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/34579
dc.description.abstractBackground - The recent increase in interest in work-life balance (WLB) is driven by previous research indicating that having a poor WLB can result in reduced performance, psychological and even physical health (Kalliath & Brough, 2008; Grzywacz & Bass, 2003; Thomas & Ganster, 1995), especially for single mothers (Roman, 2017; Avison, 1997). The purpose of this study was to gain insight in WLB of the increasing number of single mothers, through examining the impact of marital status on WLB in the Dutch context. Methods - Using a quantitative approach on existing data of 48 single mothers and 338 partnered mothers from DANS database, this relationship was explored: Does marital status of mothers impacts work-life balance in the last decade? Four hypotheses examined the impact of possible influential factors on the relationship between marital status and WLB: working hours and social support. Results - The results revealed that perceived social support increases WLB for both single and partnered mothers. No conclusive evidence was found to support the influence of marital status and working hours on WLB, even though single mothers were found to perceive less social support and work more hours per week in comparison to partnered mothers. Conclusions - To improve the WLB of parents in general, additional emotional and social support is required through telephone networks or informal social activities where parents can be accompanied by their children. Additionally, implementing control over work time by offering employees a family-supportive supervisor may increase WLB as well. Future research on WLB and influencing factors is merited, especially on the influence of coping mechanisms, social support and control over work time, to gain more insight in the WLB in the Dutch context.
dc.description.sponsorshipUtrecht University
dc.language.isoen
dc.titleDoes a mothers’ marital status impact work-life balance?
dc.type.contentMaster Thesis
dc.rights.accessrightsOpen Access
dc.subject.keywordswork-life balance, marital status, working hours, social support
dc.subject.courseuuSocial Policy and Public Health


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record