Working Parents Navigate Blurred Lines Between Job and Family Life, Study Finds

Full-time working parents frequently find themselves blurring the lines between their professional and family lives, according to a new Pew Research Center study. The survey of 2,242 parents revealed that 70% sometimes juggle work and child-rearing tasks simultaneously. Mothers are particularly likely to report handling parenting duties at work, with 81% saying they do so at least sometimes, compared to 62% of fathers.

While most parents express frustration over missing their children's events due to work, mothers feel this more acutely. Nearly 9 in 10 parents reported being upset about missing activities, but 65% of mothers described themselves as "extremely" or "very" upset, compared to 45% of fathers.

The study also highlighted differing perceptions of career advancement. Mothers were more likely than fathers to state that having children made it harder to progress in their careers. This comes as the number of dual-income households with both parents working full-time has risen to 52%, up from 31% in 1975, driven largely by mothers with college degrees.

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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.