Stereotypes and media accounts would have you believe that women struggle more with work-family conflicts than men do.

But new research has shown that women and men report similar levels of this struggle - in terms of both work life interfering with family, and family interfering with work.

The study also revealed that men and women reported similar levels of work-family conflict regardless of the level of gender equality in their country.

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The researchers spent several years examining more than 350 studies conducted over three decades, which included more than 250,000 participants from across the world

WHAT THEY FOUND The study, led by a researcher at the University of Georgia, was a meta-analysis: When data from multiple studies is combined to learn more about a specific area of research. The researchers spent several years examining more than 350 studies conducted over three decades, which included more than 250,000 participants from across the world. The researchers also looked at ratings of gender equality in the countries where the studies were conducted, and were surprised to find that men and women reported similar levels of work-family conflict regardless of the gender equality levels of that country. While some minor differences were found between men and women when the data were divided into sub-groups, none of them were large. Mothers said they felt slightly greater family interference with work than fathers, as did women in couples were both partners were earners. By contrast, men in dual-earning couples said they felt slightly highers levels of work interference with family, which women also reported when the sub-group was restricted to men and women in the same occupations. Advertisement

The study, led by a researcher at the University of Georgia, was a meta-analysis - when data from multiple studies is combined to learn more about a specific area of research.

The researchers spent several years examining more than 350 studies conducted over three decades, where half were published decades ago, and half were published in 2010 or later.

These studies included more than 250,000 participants from across the world.

'We essentially found very little evidence of differences between women and men as far as the level of work-family conflict they report,'said Dr Kirsten Shockley, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Georgia and the lead author of the study.

'This is quite contrary to the common public perception.

'The way this issue is presented in the media frames the way we think about it, and it creates a perpetual cycle.

'Women hear that other women are struggling with this issue, so they expect they will experience greater work-family conflict.

'There also is some socialization for it being OK for women to talk more about it than men.'

Previous research has found that men often don't feel comfortable discussing work-family concerns because of fears of being stigmatized, threats to their masculinity or negative career repercussions.

However, men may feel more comfortable discussing those conflicts in anonymous confidential surveys, such as those used in the studies analyzed.

'I do think it's harming men, who are silently struggling and are experiencing the same amount of work-family conflict, but no one is acknowledging it,' said Dr Shockley.

In recent years, men have increasingly become primary caregivers for young children, and father are spending more time caring for their children and completing chores on average, however, women still spend more time on both.

According to the researchers, a Pew Researcher Center study found that fathers were as likely as mothers to say that parenting was very important to their identity, but women may also face career penalties because of stereotypes that they're more family-oriented and less committed to their careers than men.

Mothers said they felt slightly greater family interference with work than fathers, as did women in couples were both partners were earners

About half of all the studies analyzed in the meta-analysis were conducted in the US, and the remainder were spread across countries in Europe and Asia.

The researchers also looked at ratings of gender equality in the countries where the studies were conducted, and were surprised to find that men and women reported similar levels of work-family conflict regardless of the gender equality levels of that country.

However, not many of these work-family conflict studies have been conducted in the Middle East, where gender inequality is common and could lead to different findings.

While some minor differences were found between men and women when the data were divided into sub-groups, none of them were large.

Because a father's traditional role has been that of the primary breadwinner, men may feel like they're fulfilling their responsibilities, leading to less guilt

Mothers said they felt slightly greater family interference with work than fathers, as did women in couples were both partners were earners.

By contrast, men in dual-earning couples said they felt slightly highers levels of work interference with family, which women also reported when the sub-group was restricted to men and women in the same occupations.

It's possible that men and women experience the same level of work-family conflict but may perceive it differently.

Women may feel guiltier about work interference with family because of traditional expectations that mothers are childrearers, however, Dr Shockley says there's been little research on this.

Because a father's traditional role has been that of the primary breadwinner, men may feel like they're fulfilling their responsibilities, leading to less guilt.

However, these gender roles are changing in the US as more women are entering the workforce and men have assume more responsibility rearing children.

The researchers say that company and government policies should provide greater support for work-family policies that benefit men and women, such as flexible work arrangements, child care support and both paid maternity and paternity leave.

Women may feel guiltier about work interference with family because of traditional expectations that mothers are childrearers

Only 9 per cent of workplaces in the US offer paid paternity leave, compared to 21 per cent for maternity leave.

The US, Suriname and Papua New Guinea are the only countries that don't guarantee any paid maternity or paternity leave, and in the US, father take only one day of paternity leave on average, paid or unpaid, for every month of maternity leave mothers take.

96 percent of fathers take two weeks of leave or less for paternity leave.

Increased paternity leave could improve mothers' well-being, and father-infant bonding has long-term positive benefits for children as well as an equal division of labor between spouses, Shockley said.