Individual and Crossover Effects of Work Schedule Fit: A Within-Couple Analysis

A couple-level analysis with a sample of 105 female reduced-hours physicians and their full-time–employed husbands found individual and spouse crossover effects: Each spouseʹs ratings of own schedule fit predict own job-role quality; wivesʹ ratings of partner/family schedule fit predict their marital-role quality, with a similar trend for husbands; husbandsʹ ratings of own schedule fit predict wivesʹ marital-role quality; and husbandsʹ ratings of partner/family schedule fit and wivesʹ ratings of own schedule fit predict husbandsʹ psychological distress. These findings highlight the interdependence of couple membersʹ experiences and illustrate potential costs of wivesʹ trading off time at work for time at home.