Development of a Measure of Job Time-Demands

Abstract

To develop a scale to measure job time-demands experienced by people involved in employment and family responsibilities, job time-demands were conceptualized as the time required in employment that could coincide or conflict with time for family responsibilities. The scale was tested with samples of employed divorced mothers who had custody of a child under 13 yr. Divorced mothers were selected because they are primarily responsible for managing both employment and family responsibilities. 381 useable questionnaires were obtained. Factor analysis of responses to the 14-item scale reflected three aspects of job time-demands: Flexibility in Work Schedule, Family-Work Schedule Conflicts, and Irregular Work Demands. Those mothers who said their jobs created difficulties in management of family responsibilities had significantly higher job time-demands than those who said they did not, except in the factor of Irregular Work Demands. Occupational classification and hours worked do not appear to be adequate substitutes for measuring job time-demands. Refinement and potential applications are discussed.