Part-time work: Paradise or Purgatory? Income Satisfaction and Gender as Moderators in the Relationship Between Part-Time Work and Mental Health

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between part-time employment and mental health among young professionals in the Netherlands, focusing on how income satisfaction and gender moderate this relationship. Using linear regression analyses, the findings indicate that part-time work is associated with better mental health, but only when individuals are satisfied with their income. Furthermore, the mental health benefits of part-time work under conditions of high income satisfaction are stronger for men than for women. These results suggest that financial adequacy and gendered expectations play critical roles in shaping the psychological outcomes of part-time employment. The study contributes to research on labor market participation and well-being by highlighting the conditional nature of part-time work's effects and advocating for gender- and income-sensitive employment policies.