Sharing of childcare and wellbeing outcomes: an empirical analysis

Executive Summary This report summarises the main findings of the second part of our study, ‘How do within-family caring arrangements impact parental and children’s outcomes’. This study consists of an empirical analysis of the relationship between the time spent on childcare by mothers and fathers in two parent households and a series of well-being outcomes, using the 2015 UK Time Use Survey. Here we distinguish between three dichotomies of the time spent caring for children based on the literature (see part 1 of this report, Chung, 2021) namely: -Care conducted as either a primary (main activity) or secondary activity (alongside another primary activity such as paid work) -‘Solo’ care (conducted without the presence of the other parent) or ‘joint’ care (conducted with another parent present) -Routine (i.e. feeding, cleaning, transporting) vs enriched (i.e. playing, reading, studying with child) care The report first provides descriptive patterns of parental childcare. We then compared these according to maternal working-time (i.e. full vs part-time) as well as the age of the youngest child in the household. Key conclusions are as follows; -Women are more likely to provide care during any given day and spend more time providing care compared to men. A large proportion of fathers, on the other hand, did not report any care-giving. Even among those who do report care giving in their time-diary, men only spend about half as much time in providing care compared to women. This gap is much larger when we take into account those who do not report providing any care. -This gender gap is especially noticeable during the week day, for caring alone, and routine care. In other words, when men take part in care, it is mostly done jointly with their partners, during the weekend, providing enrichment care. -This gender gap was especially pregnant among parents with pre-school aged children (under 5) where mothers were spending two to three times as much time providing care, especially on weekdays, and for routine and solo care. The gender gap is reduced significantly especially once children reach secondary school age. Fathers are less likely to be involved in routine childcare in households where mothers work part-time, but those who are involved in routine and solo childcare tend to do for longer periods of time than in households where both mothers work full-time. -Mothers’ employment patterns – i.e. full time vs. part-time, did not matter much in the amount of care provided as a primary activity. However, part-time working mothers spent more time providing care as a secondary activity or being with children whilst doing other activities (co-presence). -Fathers’ employment patterns also did not change the amount of time they spent with children. However, full-time working fathers tend to spend more time providing enrichment care compared to their part-time counterparts, especially during the weekend, whilst part-time working fathers reporting providing more routine care and spent more in the presence of children (co-presence). We analyse the association between the absolute and relative share of care carried out by parents and seven distinct well-being instruments, namely, anxiety, overall life satisfaction, work-life balance satisfaction, satisfaction with leisure, satisfaction with social life, relationship satisfaction, and finally overall daily enjoyment. The final instrument, enjoyment, represents an innovation over traditional well-being instruments as it is based on episode-level records reported in a 24h time diary instead of an overall evaluation by respondent of a given aspect of their life. Whereas past studies have analysed typologies of childcare such as those described above in terms of the amount of time spent by parents, the contribution of the present work consist in examining how within-household sharing of care between mothers and fathers is associated with these well-being outcomes. We found clear evidence that an increased share of childcare provided by fathers is significantly associated with a number of positive well-being outcomes, primarily for mothers, but also for fathers themselves. Some evidence was also found of a positive effect of the time spent with their parents on well-being of children aged 8 to 14. Controlling for the socio-demographic characteristics of parents, it was found that: -Mothers in households where fathers take on a significant share of enriched care tend to report greater satisfaction with their work-life balance, and lower levels of anxiety than in those in which they are not involved. This is also true of households where a greater share of the childcare is jointly done by both parents. At the same time however, mothers tend to report feeling more anxious where fathers take on more than 40% of the routine childcare. -Fathers report a greater satisfaction with their social life when they significantly engage in primary or routine care (i.e. more than 40% of the total amount of childcare carried out in the household); and a higher level of mean daily enjoyment when they significantly engage in enriched care. At the same time however, fathers who engage in significant amount of solo and secondary childcare relative to mothers, tend to be significantly less satisfied with their relationship. -For children aged 8-14: no significant association was found between their daily enjoyment and the time spent with either their mother, their father, or both parents jointly. There are indications that when mothers reported having a rushed day, the enjoyment levels of children were lower. We also found that: -Fathers working flexible hours or working at the weekend for any reason are more likely to be involved in childcare than those who do not work in these ways. -The association with father’s involvement in childcare and well-being outcomes are unlikely to have a linear relationship. Rather, being involved in primary childcare (compared to not being involved) mattered in enhancing fathers’ overall enjoyment. -Both mothers and fathers equally enjoy higher levels of well-being when they care for children at the weekend rather than on a weekday. These results of the analysis reinforce the body of evidence showing that fathers’ involvement in childcare and a more equal division of care between mothers and fathers can potentially increase well-being outcomes for parents. The report also provides some reflections on the changes expected due to COVID-19 in terms of future parenting patterns

Motivations et apports d'une prise en charge ambulatoire pluridisciplinaire de la santé des adolescents

D’importants problèmes de santé sont identifiés par les professionnels chez les adolescents. Toutefois, ces problèmes de santé ne sont que peu ou pas soulevés par les adolescents eux-mêmes car ils consultent peu à ce sujet. En particulier, ils évoquent rarement les aspects psychosociaux des problèmes auxquels ils sont confrontés. Ils fonctionnent dans le clivage entre somatique et psychologique bien que ces deux aspects soient indissociables. Les adolescents sont souvent amenés en consultation par d’autres, dont les parents. Un travail d’identification de la demande réelle de l’adolescent est donc nécessaire pour que celui-ci puisse se mobiliser vers une prise en charge. La confidentialité est cruciale de même que le respect de l’adolescent, ainsi que la reconnaissance de ses craintes et des limites qu’il met à l’accès aux informations par l’anamnèse et l’examen clinique. Il appartient au médecin de lire la demande de l’adolescent dans un double registre, à la fois somatique et psychique et de resituer cette demande dans le contexte de vie particulier à l’adolescent. Aussi, la lecture de la demande intégrera non seulement les problèmes invoqués par l’adolescent mais aussi ceux relevés par l’anamnèse et l’examen clinique. Une telle lecture peut prendre du temps pour les intervenants de santé mais aussi pour l’adolescent, avant qu’il n’aboutisse à l’émergence de sa demande et, dès lors, à une demande de prise en charge. Celle-ci devra parfois faire appel à une équipe spécifique et pluridisciplinaire telle que celle où collaborent les auteurs du présent article, au Centre de Santé de l’Adolescent à Liège

‘We treat them all the same’: the attitudes, knowledge and practices of staff concerning old/er lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans residents in care homes

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Paul Simpson, Kathrynn Almack, and Pierre Walthery, ‘ “We treat them all the same”: the attitudes, knowledge and practices of staff concerning old/er lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans residents in care homes’, Ageing and Society, first published online 29 December 2016, available online at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X1600132X Copyright: © Cambridge University Press 2016. Content in the UH Research Archive is made available for personal research, educational, and non-commercial purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, all content is protected by copyright, and in the absence of an open license, permissions for further re-use should be sought from the publisher, the author, or other copyright holder.The distinct needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) residents in care homes accommodating older people have been neglected in scholarship. On the basis of a survey of 187 individuals, including service managers and direct care staff, we propose three related arguments. First, whilst employees’ attitudes generally indicate a positive disposition towards LGBT residents, this appears unmatched by the ability to recognise such individuals and knowledge of the issues and policies affecting LGBT people. Statements such as, ‘We don’t have any [LGBT residents] at the moment’ and ‘I/we treat them all the same’ were common refrains in responses to open-ended questions. They suggest the working of heteronormativity which could deny sexual and identity difference. Second, failure to recognise the distinct health and social care needs of LGBT residents means that they could be subject to a uniform service, which presumes a heterosexual past and cisgender status (compliance with ascribed gender), which risks compounding inequality and invisibility. Third, LGBT residents could be obliged to depend largely on the goodwill, knowledge and reflexivity of individual staff (including people of faith) to meet care and personal needs, though such qualities were necessary but not sufficient conditions for inclusion and no substitute for collective practices (involving commitment to learn about LGBT issues) that become integral to care homes’ everyday functioning. A collective approach is key to advancing inclusion, implementation of legal rights to self-expression and securing equality through differentiated provision.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Les Organisations d'employeurs et de salaries dans le secteur du textile et de l'habillement au sein de l'UE : version finale

A portada: Universite catholique de Louvain. Institut de sciences du travail.Recherche menée pour la DG V de la Commission des Communautés Européennes.Le présent document constitue le quatrième rapport issu de l'étude commandée à l'initiative des services de la Commission Européenne, Direction Générale V, à l'Institut des Sciences du Travail de l'Université Catholique de Louvain (IST), à la suite de l'appel d'offre n°V/001/97. Ce rapport a pour objet de fournir à la Commission européenne des éléments permettant d'apprécier la représentativité institutionnelle des organisations européennes d'employeurs et de salariés dans le secteur du textile au sein des 15 États membres de l'UE. Il fait suite à trois travaux, portant sur le même thème mais centrés respectivement sur les organisations reconnues comme « partenaires sociaux » pour le niveau intersectoriel, des organisations affiliées à la CEC et à Eurocadres, des organisations signant les conventions collectives pour le secteur de la construction. Au cours des prochaines années seront abordés notamment le secteur des transports et celui des banques et assurances

Les Organisations d'employeurs et de salaries dans le secteur de la construction au sein de l'UE : version définitive

A portada: Universite catholique de Louvain. Institut de sciences du travailLe présent document constitue le second rapport issu de l'étude commandée à l'initiative des services de la Commission Européenne, Direction Générale V, à l'Institut des Sciences du Travail de l'Université Catholique de Louvain (IST), à la suite de l'appel d'offre n°V/001/97. Ce rapport a pour objet de fournir à la Commission européenne des éléments permettant d'apprécier la représentativité institutionnelle des organisations européennes d'employeurs et de salariés dans le secteur de la construction au sein des 15 États membres de l'UE. Il fait suite à un travail portant sur le même thème mais centré sur les organisations reconnues comme «partenaires sociaux » pour le niveau intersectoriel

Sectoral unions and employers organisations in the EU agricultural sector : final report

A portada: Universite catholique de Louvain. Institut de sciences du travailResearch project conducted on behalf of the Employment and Social Affairs DG of the European CommissionThis paper is the 17th report arising out of the study commissioned from the Institut des Sciences du Travail (IST) at the Catholic University of Louvain by the European Commission services, DGV, following call for tenders No V/001/97. This report seeks to provide the Commission with empirical data that will facilitate an assessment of the institutional representative status of European employers' and employees' organisations in the sector in the 15 Member States of the EU. It follows on from other research in the same field, but focuses particularly on organisations recognised as 'social partners' in the intersectoral level in each EU country, organisations affiliated to the CEC1 and to Eurocadres, and organisations that sign collective agreements in the construction, textiles and commerce sector. We will next tackle specifically the HORECA (hotels, restaurants and cafés) and local public service sectors

Institutional representativeness of local public sector trade union and employers' organisations in the EU : final report

Tipus de projecte: Projecte europeuA portada: Universite catholique de Louvain. Institut de sciences du travailResearch project conducted on behalf of the Employment and Social Affairs DG of the European CommissionThis document is the 16th report arising out of the study commissioned from the Institut des Sciences du Travail (IST) at the Catholic University of Louvain by the European Commission services, DGV, following call for tenders No V/001/97. This report seeks to provide the Commission with empirical data that will facilitate an assessment of the institutional representativeness of European employers' and employees' organisations in the local public sector in the 15 Member States of the EU. It follows on from other research in the same field, that focused ie particularly on organisations recognised as 'social partners' in the intersectoral level in each EU country, organisations affiliated to the CEC1 and to Eurocadres, and organisations that sign collective agreements in the construction, textiles and commerce sector, as well as road haulage and agriculture

Les Organisations d'employeurs et de salariés dans le secteur des télécommunications au sein de l'Union euroepéene : version finale

A portada: Universite catholique de Louvain. Institut de sciences du travailRecherche menée pour la Direction Emploi et Affaires sociales de la Commission des Communautés EuropéennesLe présent document constitue le cinquième rapport issu de l'étude commandée à l'initiative des services de la Commission Européenne, Direction Générale Emploi et Affaires sociales, à l'Institut des Sciences du Travail de l'Université Catholique de Louvain (IST), à la suite de l'appel d'offre n°V/001/97. Ce rapport a pour objet de fournir à la Commission des éléments empiriques permettant d'apprécier la représentativité institutionnelle des organisations européennes d'employeurs et de salariés dans le secteur des postes et télécommunications au sein des 15 États membres de l'UE. Il fait suite à trois travaux, portant sur le même thème mais centrés respectivement sur les organisations reconnues comme « partenaires sociaux » pour le niveau intersectoriel dans chaque pays de l'UE, des organisations affiliées à la CEC1 et à Eurocadres, des organisations signant les conventions collectives pour le secteur de la construction. Au cours des prochaines années seront abordés notamment le secteur des transports et celui des banques et assurances