Dual-income households with children rise to 52%, Pew study finds

A new study from the Pew Research Center highlights the complex realities of full-time working parents in the United States. The research, which surveyed 2,242 parents, indicates a significant rise in dual-income households with children, now at 52%, up from 46% a decade ago and 31% in 1975. This trend is particularly pronounced among mothers with college degrees.

The study also sheds light on the pervasive blurring of lines between professional and family life. A substantial 70% of working parents report sometimes juggling work and childcare responsibilities concurrently. Mothers are more likely than fathers to experience this overlap, with 81% of moms reporting they "sometimes" handle parenting tasks at work, compared to 62% of dads. Similarly, a majority of both mothers (63%) and fathers (57%) admit to taking on work tasks while with their children.

"One of the major findings we have from this study is just a large share of parents who experience these blurred boundaries between family and work," said Luona Lin, a Pew Research Center research associate and co-author of the study. "And we find that moms often carry more of the mental load that comes with trying to balance what their family needs with what their work demands."

Furthermore, the research underscores the emotional toll missed family events take on parents. A staggering 92% of full-time working parents expressed being upset about missing their children's activities due to work. This distress is felt more acutely by mothers, with 65% reporting being "extremely" or "very" upset, compared to 45% of fathers.

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One of the major findings we have from this study is just a large share of parents who experience these blurred boundaries between family and work. And we find that moms often carry more of the mental load that comes with trying to balance what their family needs with what their work demands.