Individual and Family Income in the Relationship Between Women's Fairness Perceptions and Family Life Satisfaction
Lijun YangABSTRACT
Objective
This study investigates the boundary conditions for the relationship between women's perceived housework fairness and family life satisfaction in the context of China in 2012.
Background
The social context moderates the relationship between women's perceived housework fairness and family life satisfaction. However, the moderating role of the family financial context has received less attention.
Methods
This study used a sample of 877 Chinese women from the 2012 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). The moderating role of family income was analyzed via an ordinary least squares regression model and a logit model.
Results
The relationship between women's perceived housework fairness and family life satisfaction is moderated by both family income and women's personal income. Perceptions of a lack of fairness in housework are associated with a reduction in family life satisfaction for high‐earning women from families in the highest quartile. However, for high‐earning women from families in other quartiles and low‐ and middle‐income women, perceived housework fairness is not associated with family life satisfaction.
Conclusion
Family income and women's personal income are two boundary conditions for the relationship between women's perceived housework fairness and family life satisfaction.
Implications
Family professionals are urged to consider domestic gender equality as a mechanism for promoting family life satisfaction.