Dual-Career Marriages and Child Well-Being: A Qualitative Study of Black-Collar Couples in Chawama

Abstract

This research examines the influence of dual-career arrangements on marital dynamics and the well-being of children within black-collar couples in Chawama, Zambia. Employing an interpretivist approach, we carried out semi-structured interviews with 18 dual-career couples (ages 26–50) and utilized purposive–snowball sampling to access information-rich households. Thematic analysis was conducted on the data. Research indicates a widespread work–family conflict characterized by time scarcity, role overload, and work-to-home spillover, often referred to as the “second shift,” with women disproportionately shouldering unpaid domestic labor. Communication breakdowns, financial pressures, and widespread digital distractions have significantly diminished marital intimacy. Reported outcomes for children included loneliness, decreased parent–child attachment, reduced supervision, and changes in behavior and school engagement. Despite these risks, certain families indicated adaptive benefits, including increased child independence and resilience, implying varied effects dependent on coping strategies and informal support systems. This study highlights specific contextual constraints, including limited childcare options, precarious incomes, and entrenched gender norms, that exacerbate dual-career strain in semi-urban environments. We advocate for interventions that are locally grounded, including gender-sensitive negotiations regarding household labor, employer flexibility for low-income workers, affordable after-school care, and community-based programs for parental communication. The findings provide detailed, context-specific evidence to the work–family literature and inform policies designed to enhance family stability and child well-being in resource-limited settings.