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- April 17, 2008

Less time for family ties


From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Where does the quality time go?

A study found that only one-fifth of employed men and women are completely satisfied with their time with their spouse and kids.

Lead author Susan Roxburgh of Kent State University looked at how work and parenthood affects time pressures concerning marriage and children.

Men and women agreed they’d like more time with their spouse. However, only women believed a hectic pace affected the time they spend with their children.

If you’re feeling pressured, Roxburgh suggests setting aside a small part of your day to get deeply involved in an enjoyable activity, like spending time with family:

“In other words, give yourself a break from this pressure to get things done.” (6 seconds)

The study was published in the Journal of Family Issues and supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 16 2008