Double burden: How commuting and childcare responsibilities relate to life dissatisfaction and obesity among Chinese women

Commuting time is closely associated with both life dissatisfaction and obesity, particularly for working women with childcare responsibilities. This study uses childcare time as an indicator of childcare intensity to examine how commuting time and childcare intensity are related to women’s life dissatisfaction and obesity. Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015), this study employs an ordered probit model, a binary probit model, and a generalized additive model (GAM). After controlling for year, region, age, income, education, marital status, travel mode, and time use, we systematically explore the relationships between commuting time, childcare intensity, life dissatisfaction, and obesity. The ordered probit model reveals a significant inverted “U” shaped relationship between commuting time and women’s life dissatisfaction, peaking at around 90 min. GAM robustness checks show minimal correlation below 30 min, a rising trend between 30 and 90 min, and a decline thereafter. Among women who spend less than 20 h per week on childcare, the turning point in the inverted “U” shaped relationship with life dissatisfaction is delayed to 106 min, while the relationship between commuting time and obesity is significantly positive and linear. Moreover, the associations between commuting time, life dissatisfaction, and obesity are particularly pronounced among women employed in non-state-owned enterprises, public transportation users, and those residing in urban. The study provides insights into understanding the commuting-stress-health nexus, highlighting the significant influence of gender-specific roles in the workplace and home.