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The Intensification of Parenting in Germany: The Role of Socioeconomic Background and Family Form

Author

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  • Sabine Walper

    (German Youth Institute (DJI), Nockherstr. 2, 81541 Munich, Germany)

  • Michaela Kreyenfeld

    (Hertie School, Friedrichstr. 180, 10117 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Drawing on the international discourse on the intensification of parenting and new data from Germany, this paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the unique challenges that parents face in the 21st century. We used data from the survey “Parenthood Today”, which was conducted in 2019 to examine parents’ views on parenting in Germany. The data comprised standardized interviews with 1652 mothers and fathers. We focused on three dimensions of parental pressures: namely, time pressure, financial pressure, and pressure that emanates from the educational system. Time pressure referred to the pressure currently felt, whereas financial pressure and pressure from the educational system referred to changes across time. In each of these domains, more than 60% of the parents experienced high (time) or increasing (education and financial) pressure. Binary logistic regressions showed that while parental education was a strong predictor of experiencing an increase in financial pressure, parental education did not matter for other realms of parenting. However, employment and family form were strongly related to parental time pressure. Full-time employed lone mothers, but also non-resident fathers, reported experiencing heavy pressure when trying to balance their roles as a worker and as a carer. Our results draw attention to the importance of better integrating the needs of post-separation families, including of non-resident fathers, in the debate on the “intensification of parenting”.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabine Walper & Michaela Kreyenfeld, 2022. "The Intensification of Parenting in Germany: The Role of Socioeconomic Background and Family Form," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:3:p:134-:d:773636
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Jonathan Guryan & Erik Hurst & Melissa Kearney, 2008. "Parental Education and Parental Time with Children," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 22(3), pages 23-46, Summer.
    4. Claire Samtleben, 2019. "Auch an erwerbsfreien Tagen erledigen Frauen einen Großteil der Hausarbeit und Kinderbetreuung," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 86(10), pages 139-144.
    5. Suzanne Bianchi, 2000. "Maternal employment and time with children: Dramatic change or surprising continuity?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 37(4), pages 401-414, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jason Hung, 2022. "Digitalisation, Parenting, and Children’s Mental Health: What Are the Challenges and Policy Implications?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, May.

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