Location

31 respondents from Skierniewice and 31 from Warsaw

Selection criteria

• • married or cohabiting women

• • at least one child under seven (but they could have more)

• • employed but, at the time of interview, they could be on maternity or childcare leave

• • living in Skierniewice or Warsaw.

The research was carried out first in Skierniewice, and then in Warsaw. The sample in Warsaw was matched to the Skierniewice group in terms of age, level of education, number of children, employment, maternity or childcare leave and pattern of shift-work.

Characteristics of both groups together (62 women)

62 were married, none living with a partner outside marriage 5 were on maternity or childcare leave, 57 were working at the time of the interview.

Working patterns

One shift (including one night shift) 31

Two shifts 15

Three shifts 3

Worked part time 1

Without regular working hours 7

Years in the marriage

5 and less 17

6-10 23

11-15 15

16-18 7

Age (years)

20-24 3

25-29 19

30-34 21

35-39 14

40-44 5

Number of children (aged up to 17) in families

One 21

Two 24

Three 15

Four 2

Level of education

Elementary 2

Vocational 5

Secondary 30

Above secondary but below university (college) 3

University 22