IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-04386-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unraveling the dyadic dynamics: exploring the impact of flexible working arrangements’ availability on satisfaction with work-life flexibility among working parents

Author

Listed:
  • Ya Guo

    (National University of Singpore)

  • Fenwick Feng Jing

    (Qufu Normal University)

  • Yuqi Zhong

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Meng Zhu

    (Hubei University of Economics)

  • Senhu Wang

    (National University of Singpore)

Abstract

Despite ample research on the association between the availability of flexible working arrangements (FWAs) and satisfaction from an individual perspective, little has explored the dyadic correlation between the availability of FWAs and satisfaction with work-life flexibility (WLF) from a couple-level perspective among working parents. Drawing on a linked lives perspective and the work-family border theory, this study contributes to the literature by adopting the longitudinal couple-level dyadic data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey (2001–2021) to examine how couples’ availability of FWAs affects their own and their spouses’ satisfaction with WLF among working parents. The results show that among couples with children, mothers’ availability of FWAs significantly improves their own and their husbands’ satisfaction with WLF. In contrast, fathers’ access to FWAs only improves their own satisfaction with WLF. Moreover, the impact of one’s availability of FWAs on their satisfaction with WLF, as well as the effects of mothers’ availability of FWAs on their husbands’ satisfaction, are more pronounced among formal contract workers. Overall, this study underscores the dyadic association between couples’ FWAs and satisfaction with WLF among working parents, delineating an asymmetric dynamic.

Suggested Citation

  • Ya Guo & Fenwick Feng Jing & Yuqi Zhong & Meng Zhu & Senhu Wang, 2025. "Unraveling the dyadic dynamics: exploring the impact of flexible working arrangements’ availability on satisfaction with work-life flexibility among working parents," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04386-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04386-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-04386-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-04386-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kim, Myoung-Hee & Kim, Chang-yup & Park, Jin-Kyung & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2008. "Is precarious employment damaging to self-rated health? Results of propensity score matching methods, using longitudinal data in South Korea," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 1982-1994, December.
    2. Marcus, Jan, 2013. "The Effect of Unemployment on the Mental Health of Spouses – Evidence from plant closures in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 32(3), pages 546-558.
    3. Heejung Chung & Hyojin Seo & Holly Birkett & Sarah Forbes, 2022. "Working from Home and the Division of Childcare and Housework among Dual-Earner Parents during the Pandemic in the UK," Merits, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-23, October.
    4. Jenny Chesters & Janeen Baxter, 2009. "Paid and Unpaid Work in Australian Households: Trends in the Gender Division of Labour, 1986-2005," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 12(1), pages 89-107.
    5. Aleksandra Wilczyńska & Dominik Batorski & Joan Sellens, 2016. "Employment Flexibility and Job Security as Determinants of Job Satisfaction: The Case of Polish Knowledge Workers," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 633-656, March.
    6. Sonja Drobnič & Barbara Beham & Patrick Präg, 2010. "Good Job, Good Life? Working Conditions and Quality of Life in Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 99(2), pages 205-225, November.
    7. Shi Yu & Chantal Levesque-Bristol & Yukiko Maeda, 2018. "General Need for Autonomy and Subjective Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis of Studies in the US and East Asia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 1863-1882, August.
    8. Colley, L. & Waterhouse, J., 2010. "The Work-Life Provisions of the Fair Work Act: A Compromise of Stakeholder Preference," Australian Bulletin of Labour, National Institute of Labour Studies, vol. 36(2), pages 154-177.
    9. Heejung Chung & Mariska van der Horst, 2020. "Flexible Working and Unpaid Overtime in the UK: The Role of Gender, Parental and Occupational Status," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 151(2), pages 495-520, September.
    10. Leonie C. Steckermeier, 2021. "The Value of Autonomy for the Good Life. An Empirical Investigation of Autonomy and Life Satisfaction in Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 693-723, April.
    11. Origo, Federica & Pagani, Laura, 2009. "Flexicurity and job satisfaction in Europe: The importance of perceived and actual job stability for well-being at work," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 547-555, October.
    12. Farhan Sarwar & Siti Aisyah Panatik & Mohammad Saipol Mohd Sukor & Noraini Rusbadrol, 2021. "A Job Demand–Resource Model of Satisfaction With Work–Family Balance Among Academic Faculty: Mediating Roles of Psychological Capital, Work-to-Family Conflict, and Enrichment," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, April.
    13. Senhu Wang & Daiga Kamerāde & Brendan Burchell & Adam Coutts & Sarah Ursula Balderson, 2022. "What matters more for employees’ mental health: job quality or job quantity?," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 46(2), pages 251-274.
    14. Andreas Knabe & Ronnie Schöb & Joachim Weimann, 2016. "Partnership, Gender, and the Well-Being Cost of Unemployment," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(3), pages 1255-1275, December.
    15. Mark Wooden & Diana Warren, 2003. "The Characteristics of Casual and Fixed-Term Employment: Evidence from the HILDA Survey," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2003n15, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    16. Pirani, Elena & Salvini, Silvana, 2015. "Is temporary employment damaging to health? A longitudinal study on Italian workers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 121-131.
    17. Heejung Chung, 2020. "Gender, Flexibility Stigma and the Perceived Negative Consequences of Flexible Working in the UK," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 151(2), pages 521-545, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Heejung Chung & Hyojin Seo, 2024. "Flexibility Stigma Across Europe: How National Contexts can Shift the Extent to which Flexible Workers are Stigmatised," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 945-965, September.
    2. Thomas Barnay, 2016. "Health, work and working conditions: a review of the European economic literature," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 17(6), pages 693-709, July.
    3. Chadi, Adrian & Hetschko, Clemens, 2025. "Income or leisure? On the hidden benefits of (un)employment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    4. Guzi, Martin & de Pedraza, Pablo, 2013. "A Web Survey Analysis of the Subjective Well-being of Spanish Workers," IZA Discussion Papers 7618, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Milena Nikolova & Sinem H. Ayhan, 2019. "Your spouse is fired! How much do you care?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(3), pages 799-844, July.
    6. Dominik Buttler, 2022. "Employment Status and Well-Being Among Young Individuals. Why Do We Observe Cross-Country Differences?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 409-437, November.
    7. Ahmed Rashad & Mesbah Sharaf, 2018. "Does Precarious Employment Damage Youth Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Marriage? Evidence from Egypt Using Longitudinal Data," Working Papers 1200, Economic Research Forum, revised 27 May 2018.
    8. Charlotte K. Marx & Mareike Reimann & Martin Diewald, 2021. "Do Work–Life Measures Really Matter? The Impact of Flexible Working Hours and Home-Based Teleworking in Preventing Voluntary Employee Exits," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-22, January.
    9. Amina Amari & Mohamed Mousa & Walid Chaouali & Zohra Ghali-Zinoubi & Narjess Aloui, 2023. "Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Unpacking the Effects of Flexitime and Flexiplace: a Study on MENA Region," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1333-1352, December.
    10. Xavier Bartoll & Joan Gil & Raul Ramos, 2018. "“Has the economic crisis worsened the work-related stress and mental health of temporary workers in Spain?”," AQR Working Papers 201808, University of Barcelona, Regional Quantitative Analysis Group, revised Oct 2018.
    11. Melanie Borah & Andreas Knabe & Christine Lücke, 2023. "Is a Sorrow Shared a Sorrow Doubled? Parental Unemployment and the Life Satisfaction of Adolescent Children," CESifo Working Paper Series 10776, CESifo.
    12. Morgenroth, Nicolas & Schels, Brigitte & Teichler, Nils, 2022. "Are Men or Women More Unsettled by Fixed-Term Contracts? Gender Differences in Affective Job Insecurity and the Role of Household Context and Labour Market Positions," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 38(4), pages 560-574.
    13. Michael Beckmann & Thomas Cornelissen & Bern Schauenberg, 2009. "Fixed-term employment, work organization and job satisfaction: Evidence from German individual-level data," Working papers 2009/09, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    14. Hyun Ju Kim & Hye Myung Lee & Heejoo Cheon & Hansoo Ko, 2023. "Differential impacts of reduced worktime on work-life balance in Korea," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(11), pages 1-17, November.
    15. Vivek Vohra & Shiwangi Singh & Tanusree Dutta, 2024. "Embracing Flexibility Post-COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Flexible Working Arrangements Using the SCM-TBFO Framework," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(1), pages 1-26, March.
    16. Senhu Wang & Hao Dong, 2024. "Flexible Working Arrangements and Fertility Intentions: A Survey Experiment in Singapore," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 40(1), pages 1-26, December.
    17. Filippos Maraziotis, 2024. "Flexibility for equality: Examining the impact of flexible working time arrangements on women's convergence in working hours," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 62(2), pages 410-445, June.
    18. Elena Bastianelli & Daniele Vignoli, 2022. "The Gendered Relationship Between (Old and New Forms of) Employment Instability and Union Dissolution," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(3), pages 1021-1048, June.
    19. Hetschko, Clemens & Schöb, Ronnie & Wolf, Tobias, 2020. "Income support, employment transitions and well-being," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    20. Francesca Modena & Concetta Rondinelli & Fabio Sabatini, 2014. "Economic Insecurity and Fertility Intentions: The Case of Italy," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 60(S1), pages 233-255, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04386-x. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.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.