IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jscscx/v7y2018i8p139-d163781.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Balancing Work and Life When Self-Employed: The Role of Business Characteristics, Time Demands, and Gender Contexts

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Hagqvist

    (Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, 831 82 Östersund, Sweden)

  • Susanna Toivanen

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Claudia Bernhard-Oettel

    (Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

This study explores individual and contextual risk factors in relation to work interfering with private life (WIL) and private life interfering with work (LIW) among self-employed men and women across European countries. It also studies the relationship between interference (LIW and WIL) and well-being among self-employed men and women. Drawing on data from the fifth round of the European Working Conditions Survey, a sample of self-employed men and women with active businesses was extracted. After applying multilevel regressions, results show that although business characteristics are important, the most evident risk factor for WIL and LIW is time demands. Both time demands and business characteristics also seem to be important factors in relation to gender differences in level of interference. There is a relationship between well-being and both WIL and LIW, and time demands is again an important factor. Gender equality in the labor market did not relate to level of interference, nor did it affect the relationship between interference and well-being. However, in gender-separated analyses, LIW and LIW interacted with gender equality in the labor market in different ways for women’s and men’s well-being. In conclusion, gender relations are important in interference and how interference relates to well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Hagqvist & Susanna Toivanen & Claudia Bernhard-Oettel, 2018. "Balancing Work and Life When Self-Employed: The Role of Business Characteristics, Time Demands, and Gender Contexts," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:7:y:2018:i:8:p:139-:d:163781
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/7/8/139/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/7/8/139/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Annink, Anne, 2017. "From social support to capabilities for the work–life balance of independent professionals," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(2), pages 258-276, March.
    2. Duncan Gallie & Helen Russell, 2009. "Work-Family Conflict and Working Conditions in Western Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 445-467, September.
    3. Kirkwood, Jodyanne & Tootell, Beth, 2008. "Is entrepreneurship the answer to achieving work–family balance?," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 285-302, July.
    4. Olivier Thévenon, 2011. "Family Policies in OECD Countries: A Comparative Analysis," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 37(1), pages 57-87, March.
    5. Lyn Craig & Abigail Powell & Natasha Cortis, 2012. "Self-employment, work-family time and the gender division of labour," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 26(5), pages 716-734, October.
    6. Gideon Kunda & Stephen R. Barley & James Evans, 2002. "Why Do Contractors Contract? The Experience of Highly Skilled Technical Professionals in a Contingent Labor Market," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 55(2), pages 234-261, January.
    7. Christine R. Cousins & Ning Tang, 2004. "Working Time and Work and Family Conflict in the Netherlands, Sweden and the Uk," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 18(3), pages 531-549, September.
    8. Canivet, Catarina & Östergren, Per-Olof & Lindeberg, Sara I. & Choi, BongKyoo & Karasek, Robert & Moghaddassi, Mahnaz & Isacsson, Sven-Olof, 2010. "Conflict between the work and family domains and exhaustion among vocationally active men and women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(8), pages 1237-1245, April.
    9. Frances McGinnity & Emma Calvert, 2009. "Work-Life Conflict and Social Inequality in Western Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 489-508, September.
    10. Walter Korpi, 2000. "Faces of Inequality: Gender, Class and Patterns of Inequalities in Different Types of Welfare States," LIS Working papers 224, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Constanze Eib & Steffi Siegert, 2019. "Is Female Entrepreneurship Only Empowering for Single Women? Evidence from France and Germany," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Milla Salin & Minna Ylikännö & Mia Hakovirta, 2018. "How to Divide Paid Work and Unpaid Care between Parents? Comparison of Attitudes in 22 Western Countries," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Emma Hagqvist & Stig Vinberg & Jonathan Q Tritter & Erika Wall & Bodil J Landstad, 2020. "The Same, Only Different: Doing Management in the Intersection between Work and Private Life for Men and Women in Small-scale Enterprises," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(2), pages 262-280, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Emma Hagqvist & Stig Vinberg & Jonathan Q Tritter & Erika Wall & Bodil J Landstad, 2020. "The Same, Only Different: Doing Management in the Intersection between Work and Private Life for Men and Women in Small-scale Enterprises," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(2), pages 262-280, April.
    2. Ingemar Johansson Sevä & Ida Öun, 2015. "Self-Employment as a Strategy for Dealing with the Competing Demands of Work and Family? The Importance of Family/Lifestyle Motives," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(3), pages 256-272, May.
    3. Wallin, Tina, 2017. "Self-employment and parenthood," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 453, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    4. Emma Hagqvist & Katja Gillander Gådin & Mikael Nordenmark, 2017. "Work–Family Conflict and Well-Being Across Europe: The Role of Gender Context," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 785-797, June.
    5. Natascha Notten & Daniela Grunow & Ellen Verbakel, 2017. "Social Policies and Families in Stress: Gender and Educational Differences in Work–Family Conflict from a European Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(3), pages 1281-1305, July.
    6. Henz, Ursula & Mills, Colin, 2015. "Work-life conflict in Britain: job demands and resources," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 60070, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Anna Matysiak & Dorota Węziak-Białowolska, 2016. "Country-Specific Conditions for Work and Family Reconciliation: An Attempt at Quantification," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 32(4), pages 475-510, October.
    8. Clara Viñas-Bardolet & Joan Torrent-Sellens & Mònica Guillen-Royo, 2020. "Knowledge Workers and Job Satisfaction: Evidence from Europe," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(1), pages 256-280, March.
    9. Helen Russell & Frances McGinnity, 2014. "Under Pressure: The Impact of Recession on Employees in Ireland," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(2), pages 286-307, June.
    10. Pedersen, Peder J. & Schmidt, Torben Dall, 2014. "Life Events and Subjective Well-being: The Case of Having Children," IZA Discussion Papers 8207, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. McGinnity F & Russell H, 2011. "Workplace Equality in the Recession? The Incidence and Impact of Equality Policies and Flexible Working," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BKMNEXT200.
    12. Milla Salin & Minna Ylikännö & Mia Hakovirta, 2018. "How to Divide Paid Work and Unpaid Care between Parents? Comparison of Attitudes in 22 Western Countries," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-20, October.
    13. Sara Poggesi & Michela Mari & Luisa Vita, 2019. "Women entrepreneurs and work-family conflict: an analysis of the antecedents," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 431-454, June.
    14. Chiara Mussida & Raffaella Patimo, 2018. "Women’s care responsibilities, employment and health: a two countries’ tale," DISCE - Quaderni del Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali dises141, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    15. Clara Viñas-Bardolet & Monica Guillen-Royo & Joan Torrent-Sellens, 2020. "Job Characteristics and Life Satisfaction in the EU: a Domains-of-Life Approach," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(4), pages 1069-1098, September.
    16. Mikael Nygård & Marja Lindberg & Fredrica Nyqvist & Camilla Härtull, 2019. "The Role of Cash Benefit and In-Kind Benefit Spending for Child Poverty in Times of Austerity: An Analysis of 22 European Countries 2006–2015," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 146(3), pages 533-552, December.
    17. Dong-Jin Lee & M. Joseph Sirgy, 2018. "What Do People Do to Achieve Work–Life Balance? A Formative Conceptualization to Help Develop a Metric for Large-Scale Quality-of-Life Surveys," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 138(2), pages 771-791, July.
    18. Qi Yang & Jianyuan Huang, 2020. "Content Analysis of Family Policy Instruments to Promote the Sustainable Development of Families in China from 1989–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, January.
    19. Palència, Laia & Malmusi, Davide & De Moortel, Deborah & Artazcoz, Lucía & Backhans, Mona & Vanroelen, Christophe & Borrell, Carme, 2014. "The influence of gender equality policies on gender inequalities in health in Europe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 25-33.
    20. Joanna Osiñska, 2013. "Postawy wzglêdem euro i ich determinanty– przegl¹d badañ i literatury przedmiotu," Working Papers 70, Institute of Statistics and Demography, Warsaw School of Economics.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:7:y:2018:i:8:p:139-:d:163781. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.