Work hours affect spouse's cortisol secretion--for better and for worse

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Dual-earner couples navigate work-life balance challenges.
• Understanding the physiological impact of work on couples is crucial for well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bodily costs and benefits associated with productive work time in German dual-earner couples.
• To examine how individual and partner work hours affect cortisol levels.

Main Methods:

• Utilized diary reports to track time spent on formal and informal work activities.
• Applied the Actor-Partner Interdependence model for data analysis.
• Analyzed data from 52 German dual-earner couples with young children.

Main Results:

• Each hour of market or household work increased an individual's total cortisol concentration.
• Spouse's paid work time also elevated an individual's cortisol levels.
• Spouse's household work time showed a tendency to decrease an individual's cortisol concentration.

Conclusions:

• Work hours significantly impact physiological stress (cortisol) in dual-earner couples.
• Partner's work involvement has both detrimental and potentially beneficial effects on individual stress.
• Findings highlight the intricate relationship between work, social dynamics, and couple well-being.