Perceptions of the Division of Housework and Childcare and Marital Satisfaction. The Impact of Family Structure on the Structure of Work

摘要

Dual earner couples (136) and housewives couples (103) were studied. The focus was on the relationship between marital satisfaction and satisfaction with housework and childcare arrangements, doing own share of housework and childcare. Analysis was done at both individual and couple levels. At both levels of analysis, satisfaction with housework and childcare arrangements and perceiving spouse as doing his/her share of housework and childcare predict marital satisfaction. None of the traditional variables: income, family stage, wife's employment status and sex predict marital satisfaction. Perceptions of own contribution to housework and childcare are not correlated to marital satisfaction among men, but, women who are satisfied with their marriage perceive themselves as doing less than their share of family work. In all three couples' patterns (one in dual earners and two in housewives couples) the perception which distinguishes between spouses who are satisfied with marriage and those who are not is that the other spouse is doing his/her share of family work. (Author)