Decent work and marital satisfaction among Chinese workers: Is there a north-south divide?

Reporter：Shen Jie

Abstract：Studies on the impact on workers of decent work have been scant and one important area of neglect is in the non-work domain of family life. Integrating spillover effect theory with the psychology of working theory this study adds to the vocational literature by exploring how and when decent work affects family life; in particular marital satisfaction. The analysis of the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data reveals that decent work is directly and indirectly related to marital satisfaction through the mediation of job satisfaction. Moreover, a north-south divide was found to moderate the direct and indirect relationships between decent work and marital satisfaction. That is, the relationships are stronger in southern regions than northern regions. The findings of this study suggest macro and enterprise level interventions are required to ensure workers to secure decent work and region-tailored interventions are necessary when helping individuals to overcome the challenges that work presents to families.