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Work-family balance : an interpretive approach to understanding perceptions and strategies of dual-earner couples in Cape Town, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisor Livingston, Jacques
dc.contributor.author Seeley, Ana-Cristina
dc.date.accessioned 2015-07-09T09:45:41Z
dc.date.available 2015-07-09T09:45:41Z
dc.date.issued 2015-02
dc.identifier.citation Seeley, Ana-Cristina (2015) Work-family balance : an interpretive approach to understanding perceptions and strategies of dual-earner couples in Cape Town, South Africa, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18793> en
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18793
dc.description.abstract Balancing the work and family domains is an ongoing concern for men and women in dual-earner relationships. However, most of the research studies that have explored work-family balance, have been conducted within the North American context using highly educated middle-class couples. Furthermore, no known South African studies have explored work-family balance experiences and strategies based on the couple as a unit. The aim of this study is therefore to understand how middle-class South African dual-earner couples experience and pursue work-family balance. A sample comprising ten multi-racial, middle-class, heterosexual dual-earner couples with children, who work in different employment sectors, and reside in Cape Town, South Africa, were selected purposefully through the use of convenience and snow-ball sampling techniques. The interpretive approach located within the qualitative paradigm was employed to understand the subjective experiences of couples through the method of semi-structured conjoint interviews. All conjoint interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for later analysis. Patterns and themes within the data were identified using thematic analysis and later organised through the use of thematic networks. Two organising themes were uncovered for the global theme "subjective experiences of work-family balance amongst dual-earner couples", namely that work-family balance is a unique experience, and that work-family balance is a dynamic process. Furthermore, the data analysis revealed ten organising themes for the global theme "strategies dual-earner couples use to pursue a work-family balance", namely that striving towards an egalitarian marital relationship helps to promote couples' experience of work-family balance; proactively structuring opportunities for time with family contributes to a balanced work and family life; accessing familial and paid support promotes feelings of being successful in balancing work and family roles; shared planning and organisation facilitates a better balance of work and family roles; living within means relieves couples of unnecessary financial stress; creating opportunities for "alone time" supports couples' work-family balance; work validation and satisfaction encourages greater experiences ofwork-family balance; having the ability to control one's schedule ensures greater freedom to transition between work and family domains; setting boundaries around work and family domains helps couples maintain their balance; and relying on faith to cope with work and family stressors leads to a more balanced life. Each organising theme contained several basic themes which were discussed in relation to previous literature and/or research studies. en
dc.format.extent 1 online resource (xx, 180 leaves) : color illustrations
dc.language.iso en en
dc.subject Dual-earner couples
dc.subject Work-family balance
dc.subject Multiple roles
dc.subject Strategy
dc.subject Interpretivism
dc.subject Cape Town
dc.subject South Africa
dc.subject.ddc 306.87209687355
dc.subject.lcsh Work and family -- South Africa -- Cape Town
dc.subject.lcsh Dual-career families -- South Africa -- Cape Town
dc.subject.lcsh Work-life balance -- South Africa -- Cape Town
dc.subject.lcsh Married people -- South Africa -- Cape Town -- Finance, Personal
dc.subject.lcsh Personality and occupation -- South Africa -- Cape Town
dc.subject.lcsh Family policy -- South Africa -- Cape Town
dc.subject.lcsh Social structure -- South Africa -- Cape Town
dc.title Work-family balance : an interpretive approach to understanding perceptions and strategies of dual-earner couples in Cape Town, South Africa en
dc.type Dissertation en
dc.description.department Psychology en
dc.description.degree M.A. (Psychology)


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