Digital Communication in work and family life in Europe

Abstract

This special issue brings together innovative research on the use and implications of digital communication in work and family life. It examines the context dependence of the use of digital communication and the consequences for work-family integration and conflict in a comparative design. It also broadens the perspective to new technological developments. The editorial gives an overview of the existing literature and presents the main findings of the articles in this special issue. It also provides initial descriptive information on digital communication with children, parents, line managers and colleagues, based on the initiated module on ‘Digital Social Contacts in Work and Family Life’ in the European Social Survey Round 10. There are apparent differences across European countries, social groups (age, gender, migration background, class) and with respect to the inclusion in the labor market (in paid employment, working from home, occupational status). Overall, the special issue demonstrates that digital communication in work and family life is interrelated, is inherent to gendered strategies to combine work and family, and is also a matter of digital skills, emotional and physical closeness and the institutional context. Work-family conflict enhancing implications are identified but do not seem to be an indispensable attribute.