Parents' unsociable work schedules and children's well-being : a mixed methods study of dual-earner households in Mainland China

Abstract

Parental involvement is vital for children’s healthy development. However, work hours and schedules are increasingly customized to maximize economic efficiency, often making it difficult for working parents to attend to their parenting responsibilities. This study examined the influence of parents’ work schedule characteristics on children’s well-being in Chinese dual-earner households. A parallel mixed methods design was used. A quantitative approach was taken to examine the association between parents’ work schedules and children’s well-being, and a qualitative approach was used to explore children’s lived experiences of parental exposure to unsociable work schedules. By providing empirical evidence from China, the study adds to a growing body of research—primarily from Western, developed economies—on the implications of parents’ work schedules for children’s well-being. By incorporating children’s voices, it enriches discussions of the work–family interface, which have thus far foregrounded parents’ perspectives.

Drawing on a sample of 508 mother–father–child triads from China Family Panel Studies 2020, structural equation modeling revealed an adverse indirect association between parents’ unsociable work schedules and children’s well-being. Mediation analysis showed that fathers’ and mothers’ work schedules were linked to children’s well-being through distinct pathways. Specifically, children exhibited higher levels of depression when their fathers worked longer weekly hours or more frequent night shifts; this relationship was mediated by higher levels of paternal depression. Additionally, children had higher levels of depression when their mothers worked more frequent night shifts; this relationship was mediated by lower levels of parent–child bonding. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 15 children from Chinese dual-earner households identified four recurrent themes in children’s lived experiences of having parents with unsociable work schedules, namely missed opportunities for in-person bonding, socializing mediated by technology, lack of emphasis on order and structure, and developing self-discipline. The findings cast doubt on the sustainability of unsociable work schedules, especially when such schedules compromise family welfare and the well-being of future generations.

This study makes three important theoretical contributions. First, it contributes to the ecological systems theory by showing how broader social structures, as indicated by parents’ employment conditions, shape family dynamics and intergenerational ties, which ultimately affect children’s well-being. Second, it adds to the notion of linked lives by highlighting the interdependent nature of emotions and behaviors among parents and their children within the household. Third, it expands the traditional focus on cultural and economic determinants of parenting by drawing attention to a practical yet often overlooked factor that influences parenting behaviors: parents’ ability to effectively manage their time.

This study has three significant practical implications. First, it underscores the need for greater recognition of working parents’ family commitments and more robust work–life support. Second, it urges working parents to rethink their time management strategies and parenting decisions, particularly in steering their children towards meaningful self-directed digital use. Third, it informs potential avenues for family–school collaboration to better support children’s development.