Parental time investments and instantaneous wellbeing in the United States

Bosworth, S. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8978-9516, Gimenez-Nadal, J. I. and Sevilla, A. (2025) Parental time investments and instantaneous wellbeing in the United States. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 72 (1). e12402. ISSN 1467-9485 doi: 10.1111/sjpe.12402

Abstract/Summary

This study investigates the relationship between maternal education, child-care time, and wellbeing in the US, with a particular focus on the role of societal norms. Highly educated mothers spend more time on childcare compared to their less educated counterparts. Drawing on data from the American Time Use Survey's Well-Being Modules (2012, 2013, 2021), this research provides a comprehensive examination of maternal activities and wellbeing. Notably, educated mothers consistently experience reduced instantaneous happiness during childcare, across various caregiving tasks, despite investing greater time in them. To better understand this pattern, we introduce an identity economics model whose predictions are consonant with the empirical findings. Our model illustrates how societal gender roles differentially influence patterns of time allocation by mothers' education and impact their instantaneous and overall wellbeing.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/118685
Identification Number/DOI	10.1111/sjpe.12402
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Politics, Economics and International Relations > Economics
Publisher	Wiley
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