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Working Time Mismatch and Employee Subjective Well-being across Institutional Contexts: A Job Quality Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Wanying Ling

    (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China)

  • Senhu Wang

    (National University of Singapore, Singapore)

  • Zhuofei Lu

    (University of Oxford, UK)

Abstract

Despite the well-documented negative impact of working time mismatch on employee subjective well-being, little is known about the extent to which this association can be explained by job quality and how these patterns may differ across institutional contexts. Utilizing panel data from the UK and cross-country data from Europe, the decomposition analyses show that for underemployment, more than half of the negative effects are explained by low job quality, especially poor career prospects. For overemployment, more than a third of its negative effect is explained by low job quality, with poor prospects, social environment and work–life balance being significant contributing factors. This interplay between job quality and working time mismatch on subjective well-being varies notably across different welfare and employment regimes. These findings reveal how job quality dimensions differentially contribute to the well-being of overemployed and underemployed individuals, highlighting the distinctive role of institutional context.

Suggested Citation

  • Wanying Ling & Senhu Wang & Zhuofei Lu, 2025. "Working Time Mismatch and Employee Subjective Well-being across Institutional Contexts: A Job Quality Perspective," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 39(2), pages 470-495, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:39:y:2025:i:2:p:470-495
    DOI: 10.1177/09500170241259330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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