Using three waves of data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS 1995–2014, N =1,123), this study investigates the linkage between caregiving and women’s positive and negative work–family spillovers over the life course. Results show that women’s work–family experiences are not only shaped by caregiving itself but also depend on the timing when they take these roles: the effect of raising school-aged children on negative family-to-work spillover (FWS) is the highest in the 40s, and the effect of raising adolescent children on positive work-to-family spillover (WFS) is the lowest in the 50s. Providing financial support to parents increases both negative FWS and negative WFS, and the effects are highest in their 20s and 65+, respectively. Providing emotional care and unpaid assistance to parents can enhance women’s positive FWS in their 40s. This study’s findings suggest that timing and linked-lives both play strong roles in shaping women’s work–family experiences.

使用来自美国中年研究 (MIDUS 1995–2014, N=1,123)，这项研究调查了照料与女性在生命历程中积极和消极的工作-家庭溢出效应之间的联系。结果表明，女性的工作-家庭经历不仅受照料本身的影响，还取决于她们担任这些角色的时机：抚养学龄儿童对家庭对工作的负面溢出（FWS）的影响最高40 年代，抚养青春期子女的积极工作对家庭溢出效应（WFS）的影响在 50 年代最低。为父母提供经济支持会增加负 FWS 和负 WFS，分别在 20 多岁和 65 岁以上影响最大。为父母提供情感关怀和无偿帮助可以增强 40 多岁女性的积极 FWS。