Perceived stress in relation to working hours and caring responsibilities: A cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic

Stress is associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. While work hours have been linked to health and stress outcomes, part-time work may be used to manage work and care responsibilities and thus potentially reduce stress. We examined this relationship in the Netherlands, where part-time work is very common among women, during the COVID-19 pandemic – a period when stress levels were potentially high(er).

Data included 1,220 men and women in the Netherlands aged 24 to 64 years from the COGIS-NL study (Wave 2, June 2020) and other modules of the Longitudinal Internet studies for the Social Sciences panel. Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition analyses were used to analyse gender differences in perceived stress in relation to weekly work hours (<20 hours, short part-time; 20-34 hours, long part-time; 35 hours or more, full-time). Cross-sectional ordinary least squares regression analyses further tested these associations, and any potential mediation by perceived work-life balance, controlling for age, educational level, family situation, and employment situation.

Gender differences in stress can be attributed to differential effects of part-time employment on men and women’s perceived stress levels. Long part-time work hours were associated with lower stress levels for women, but not for men, and it was only associated with lower stress levels for mothers with co-resident minor children and not for women without. Perceived work-life balance was independently associated with stress but did not mediate the relationship between work hours and stress.

Higher stress levels among women are likely attributable to differential effects of part-time work on men and women’s stress levels. Working fewer hours (<35) buffered perceived stress for mothers, but not for fathers or individuals without co-resident minor children. Although perceived work-life balance was associated with perceived stress, it did not influence the relationship of work hours with stress.

This study explores how work hours and caregiving responsibilities relate to stress levels in men and women during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the Netherlands—a country with high levels of part-time work. It examines how gender and caregiving roles influence stress, particularly whether working fewer hours can reduce stress. Key findings include: women experienced higher stress levels than men, and this was not simply because women were more likely to work part-time. Instead, stress was influenced by how work hours impacted men and women differently. For women, working 20–34 hours per week (long part-time) was linked to lower stress compared to full-time work, but working very short hours (less than 20) did not reduce stress further. For men, work hours were not strongly linked to stress levels. We also find that caregiving roles matter: Women with children living at home benefited the most from working part-time, as it seemed to help them balance work and caregiving responsibilities. However, women without children at home did not experience the reduction in stress. Men’s stress levels were not significantly affected by the number of hours they worked, regardless of caregiving responsibilities. Finally, people’s perceived work-life balance matters. Feeling like work and caregiving were balanced was associated with lower stress, especially for those with children at home. However, this balance did not explain the link between work hours and stress—it had its own independent impact. The study highlights the importance of understanding caregiving responsibilities when designing policies to reduce stress, particularly for working parents. It suggests that supporting flexible work arrangements, especially for caregivers, could help reduce stress during times of crisis. However, long-term strategies should consider the career and financial impacts of reduced work hours, especially for women.