Can we have it all? The work–family coping profiles of dual-earners

Abstract

Despite the difficulties faced, many dual-earner families seem to develop the necessary skills to deal with the challenge of managing family and work responsibilities. The present study uses a person-oriented approach to identify how four types of conciliation strategies – partner-based coping, having a positive view of the dual-earner situation, using individual management and planning skills and making professional adjustments – are combined and whether different combinations of these strategies are predictors of relationship satisfaction. Cluster analysis was conducted on a sample of 402 Portuguese dual-earners. Five profiles were found: Active, High Supported, Work Flexible, Low Supported and Minimalist. Actives report high use of all strategies, whereas Minimalists report the lowest use of all strategies. The High- and Low-Supported groups differ in the extent to which they use partner coping, whereas the Work-Flexible group use all strategies at a moderate to high level, especially making professional adjustments. The Active, High-Supported and Work-Flexible clusters were found to be more beneficial for relationship satisfaction. Women were more represented in the Active profile and men in the Work-Flexible profile, and this was partially shaped by gender attitudes: the more traditional women are, the more they are represented in the Work-Flexible cluster and less in the Active cluster. However, traditionalism is not a predictor of cluster membership for men. This study showed that individuals avoid cutting back on their work investments and make strong use of relationship-based strategies, in order to be able to combine work and family.