Working Mothers in Finland: A Cross-Country Comparison of Work to Family Interference, Work Characteristics and Satisfaction with Life

Sirpa Weckström

doi:10.23979/fypr.45066

Abstract

In this study it was examined whether work-related experiences of Finnish mothers are different from work-related experiences of mothers in 11 other European countries. The data was based on European Social Survey, round 2, conducted in the years 2004-2005. Descriptive statistics and ordinal regression analysis were used to assess the outcomes. Work to home interference was not especially frequent among mothers in Finland. However, interference that comprised other family members was more common than in the other countries investigated. With regard to work characteristics, Finnish mothers differed both negatively and positively from mothers in the other countries. Long working hours increased time-based interference from work to family members. Time pressure at work increased both time- and strain-based interferences. Social support from co-workers decreased strain-based interference. Work to family member interferences, especially strain-based interference, were negatively connected to life satisfaction. Both working and non-working mothers in Finland appeared to be satisfied with their life.

Highlights

Compared to mothers in many other European countries, mothers in Finland have a long tradition of undertaking paid work
A study of mothers who stayed at home when the child was two years old indicated that mothers frequently justified a prolonged home care period by its importance for the child (Salmi, Lammi-Taskula and Närvi 2009)
This study investigated the way in which mothers perceive their work, with the primary aim of assessing whether there are particular aspects associated with the work domain in Finland that could have increased the attraction of long home care periods

Summary

Introduction

Compared to mothers in many other European countries, mothers in Finland have a long tradition of undertaking paid work. As far back as the 1970s, and increasingly in the 1980s, even mothers who had young children frequently worked outside the home (Kauppinen-Toropainen, Haavio-Mannila, Kandolin and Simonsuuri-Sorsa 1983). Since the 1990s, a considerable part of mothers have stayed at home with their newborn child for relatively long periods, typically until the child is 1.5 to 3 years old In many other European countries, the number of mothers who worked despite having such young children increased during this period. A study of mothers who stayed at home when the child was two years old indicated that mothers frequently justified a prolonged home care period by its importance for the child (Salmi, Lammi-Taskula and Närvi 2009). Recent marked changes in the nature of work render the latter explanation interesting

Results

Discussion

Conclusion