Universal Breadwinner Versus Universal Caregiver Model: Fathers' Involvement in Caregiving and Well-Being of Mothers of Offspring with Intellectual Disabilities

Background: The universal breadwinner model means both parents are employed; while the universal caregiver model implies that the father's hours of caregiving are equal or higher to those of the mother. This study aims to examine the hypothesis that the universal caregiver model is more related to the overall well-being of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities than the universal breadwinner model. Methods: Face-to-face interview surveys were conducted in 2011 in Taiwan with 876 working-age mothers who had an offspring with intellectual disabilities. The survey included 574 mothers living with their husbands who became our participants. Results: Both anova and regression analyses indicated that, compared with mothers in the universal breadwinner group, mothers in the universal caregiver group had higher levels of maternal marital and family life satisfaction, but not of work satisfaction and quality of life. Conclusions: An incentive policy is critical for supporting the fathers involved in lifelong caregiving and to promote the mothers' quality of life.