Towards Equality? Couples’ Time during the Great Recession

• In Event: 054 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 08. Families and Time Use

Abstract

The impact of the Great Recession on young workers has been detrimental. Notably, young workers have disproportionately shouldered high unemployment and, for those employed, job prospects are bleak. These economic patterns have important consequences for young Americans’ time patterns. We investigate one dimension of the Great Recession on time by investigating respondents’ reports of time with their spouse/partner. Applying data from the 2003 to 2012 American Time Use Survey (ATUS), we document clear recession effects with Americans spending more time with their spouse/partner during, compared to prior to, the recession. Yet, these patterns have clear age effects with young adults reporting more time together overall and in housework and leisure during the recession. The implications of greater shared time on marital quality and stability requires additional short- and long-term investigation.

Authors

• Leah Ruppanner, University of Melbourne

• Claudia Geist, University of Utah