Content and Objectives

On the one hand, rush hour refers to the concentration of biographical events such as starting a career, establishing a joint household, marriage and a family. This concentration primarily affects university graduates aged between 30 and 40, as their education takes longer and they start their careers later, while fertility in women begins to decline significantly from the age of 35. On the other hand, rush hour in the family cycle refers to the high workload of parents due to gainful employment, housework and care work in the phase of life with young children. The decisive factor here is not the age of the parents, but that of the children, and it affects all educational groups.

For example, this project examines the use of time in families, for example with regard to care work, household activities and leisure activities, and analyses the well-being of families with regard to mental load, stress and mental health in the rush hour of life. It also analyses attitudes towards parents' ideal working hours according to the different ages of their children and compares them to actual employment. Another topic is potential conflicts and solution strategies regarding the compatibility of employment and family, with the focus on the transitions from part-time work to near-full-time part-time and full-time in the phase of life in which the children get older and the rush hour of life slows down.

In this context, differences between the sexes deserve special attention, as mothers' longer working hours often depend on fathers' commitment to caring and housework. The cross-sectional perspective of the shortage of skilled labour and well-being comes into play in the project.