Parents under pressure? Involvement in childcare and the perception of time pressure among Czech mothers and fathers

Abstract

This study examines the link between involvement in childcare and perceived time pressures among parents with at least one child up to 12 years of age in the Czech Republic. Using data from the Czech Household Panel Survey (2015), this study combines multiple indicators of subjective time pressure with time-use diary data on time spent on different types of childcare activities. Multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression models reveal the gendered link between childcare participation and the perception of time stress and time deficits in terms of family time, personal time and sleep. Long working hours contribute to time stress and a lack of personal time for both parents, although the effect is stronger for mothers. While greater total time spent caring for children increases time stress for mothers, it has no such effect on fathers. For mothers, focused care time decreased perceived time deficits with family rather than the total time spent on childcare. Additionally, mothers are more likely to report a lack of personal time, and parents of small children report a higher lack of sleep, even when controlling for the time spent in paid work and childcare. This study contributes to the research on gender disparities in unpaid family work and the outcomes of intensive parenting in the context of the Czech Republic.