Research from Working Families and Lancaster University School of Management has uncovered new findings about today’s working fathers. The two- year research project has spoken to over 1100 working fathers to find out about how they combine work and family life. Key findings include:
There is a general trend that men who have 1 or 3 children are more stressed than those who have 2
Fathers who did more housework were less stressed
Fathers whose partners worked full-time had a better sense of wellbeing than those whose partners worked part-time
Fathers on a low income feel less stressed if they are able to work flexibly
Lead researcher from Lancaster University Management School, Dr Caroline Gatrell, said:
“The way we ‘do’ family has changed – not only because mothers are more likely to go out to work but also because today, both mothers and fathers want closer relationships with children as they are growing up.
Many more Dads than in the past want to be involved with their children and this is the case whether they are in partnerships/marriages, or separated/divorced. And Mums who go out to work might require Dads to work flexibly so child care can be shared. Our research shows how employers would be wrong to assume that mothers are always primary carers. Among some parents childcare is shared equally than in the past and in some cases Dads are the main or only carer. Its time social attitudes changed to recognise big changes in family practices in the 21st century”
Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families said:
“Our research to date shows that working fathers are very often seriously stressed: pressures of combining work with being a dad are squeezing many men to feel more psychologically stressed and less effective at work.
Flexible working is a good way to alleviate some of this stress, and men who have a better balance between work and home life tend to be happier and perform better at work. We would urge employers to look at these findings, especially in these uncertain economic times when maximising performance is vital, to see if there is anything they can do to help their employees who are fathers.”
