Well-Being, Time Use, and Women's Empowerment after Couple Separation: Evidence for Uruguay

Although many studies have assessed the effects of union dissolution on access to economic resources, few have analyzed changes in other domains of women’s quality of life that might be affected when couple separation occurs in households with small children. This study analyzes the effects of union dissolution on economic and subjective well-being, time use and household workload, empowerment, and attitudes toward gender norms among custodial mothers. The study uses two waves of an official longitudinal study that followed Uruguayan households with children ages 0–3 years beginning in 2013. The findings show that union dissolution entails, on average, a net per capita household income loss of 29 percent, increased paid labor effort, and decreased time devoted to household work. Empowerment and gender norms are not significantly affected.HIGHLIGHTSIn Uruguay, mothers experience a 26–32 percent household income loss after couple separation.Separated mothers increase market work but spend fewer hours on household tasks.Gender egalitarian attitudes predict separation; separation barely changes them.Separation does not affect empowerment but worsens family satisfaction.Policy should extend beyond child support to promote women’s broad well-being.