This study explored the role of midlife market-work arrangements of married mixed-gender couples on gendered experiences in emotional well-being and housework during the encore years. Working during midlife may shape long-term outcomes after couples leave the workforce and begin retirement. Using three theories of gender as a framework to understand work sharing in couples, the study theoretically connects work arrangements in midlife with long-term predictions of gender differences in couple emotional well-being and housework. Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000–2015; N = 3,231), the study found that gender differences in housework were similar in male-earner and dual-earner couples during the encore years. However, women in male-earner marriages reported low levels of emotional well-being in the encore years, while men in dual-earner couples in mid-life reported high levels of well-being. The findings suggest more gendered experiences in midlife employment correlated with worse mental health in the encore years for women. Understanding midlife employment as a protective factor against depressive symptoms is useful for families, practitioners, and policymakers to be aware of as they seek to understand and mitigate drivers of poor mental health during the encore years. The study demonstrates a need for further development of dynamic theoretical models to explain gender differences over the life course.

本研究探讨了已婚混合性别夫妇的中年市场工作安排对再演期间情感幸福和家务方面的性别体验的作用。在夫妻离开劳动力并开始退休后，中年工作可能会影响长期结果。该研究以三种性别理论作为理解夫妻工作分担的框架，从理论上将中年的工作安排与对夫妻情感幸福感和家务劳动中性别差异的长期预测联系起来。使用来自健康和退休研究的纵向数据（2000-2015；N = 3,231)，该研究发现，男性收入者和双收入者夫妇在安可年的家务劳动中的性别差异相似。然而，男性收入婚姻中的女性在复婚年份报告的情绪幸福感水平较低，而中年双收入婚姻中的男性报告的幸福感水平较高。研究结果表明，中年就业中更多的性别经历与女性在重生时更差的心理健康状况相关。将中年就业理解为对抗抑郁症状的保护因素对于家庭、从业者和政策制定者来说是有用的，因为他们试图了解和减轻重演期间心理健康状况不佳的驱动因素。该研究表明需要进一步发展动态理论模型来解释生命过程中的性别差异。