Factors Related to Household and Child Care Task Responsibility of Spouses in Houston, Texas

Abstract

What are the differences in household and child care task responsibility by the employment role responsibility of spouses? What are the differences in the relationships between task preference, quality of task performance, and sex‐role ideology and household and child care task responsibility of spouses by the employment role responsibility of the spouses? What are the most important variables in determining household and child care responsibility? Data were collected from a random sample of wives and husbands in Houston, Texas. The sample (n = 151) was generally characterized as white, middle‐aged, upper income, and middle class. Wives who shared the employment role had less responsibility for female and child care tasks and husbands had more responsibility for female tasks than spouses in families in which the husband had total responsibility for the employment role. However, spouses who shared the employment role maintained major responsibility for their traditional household and child care tasks. Although liking of the tasks, quality of task performance, and sex‐role attitudes were related to household and child care task responsibility, these relationships were not significantly different when the employment role was shared or was the total responsibility of the husband. Multiple regression analyses revealed that quality of task performance was the most frequent significant variable in determining household and child care task responsibility. Implications and recommendations are given.

The effect of sex role orientation on the amount of time spent in household production by the husband and the wife

“…The relationship between sex role orientation and participation of the wife in household production has been mixed across the studies. Wheeler andArvey (1981), andRoss (1987) found that the wife's attitude did not significantly affect the division of household production. In contrast, Bird et ale (1984) found that sex role orientation had an effect on the management of family activities such as organizing social activities and planning family recreation, or financial management such as paying bills and balancing the checkbook.…”

“…These activities are termed: "household production" (Reid, 1934;Schram & Hafstrom, 1984;Walker & Woods, 1976);"household work" {Bryant, 1983;Dolan & Scannell, 1987;Lovingood & Firebaugh, 1978;Matsushima, 1981;Meiners & Olson, 1987;Rowland et al, 1986;Sanik, 1981;Sanik & Mauldin, 1986;Walker, 1970); "housework" (Berardo et al, 1987;Coverman & Sheley, 1986;Glazer-Malbin, 1976;Hafstrom & Schram, 1983;Keith & Schafer, 1986;Model, 1981;Nickols & Metzen, 1978Rexroat & Shehan, 1987;Schooler et al, 1984;Schram & Hafstrom, 1986;Vanek, 1974); and "household tasks" (Hall & Schroeder, 1970;Hedges & Barnett, 1972;Shelton, 1990;Wheeler, 1984). In addition to the diversity of terms, the terms themselves and the categories included in them are also defined differently, depending on the purpose of the study.…”

“…Respondents are asked how many hours they spend on each of the household production activities listed. Work by Hall and Schroeder (1970), Wheeler (1984), and Coverman (1985) used this method.…”

“…Factors affecting household production time of the husband Number of children. In many studies, the sample has been limited to families consisting of husband, wife, and children (Barnett & Baruch, 1987;Berardo et al, 1987;Dolan & Scannell, 1987;Fox & Nickols, 1983;Goebel & Hennon, 1984; Hafstrom & Schram, 1983;Keith & Schafer, 1986;Lawrence et al, 1987;Lovingood & Firebaugh, 1978;Meiners & Olson, 1987;Nickols & Metzen, 1978;Rexroat & Shehan, 1987;Sanik, 1981;Schram & Hafstrom, 1986;Shelton, 1990;Stafford, 1983;Walker & Woods, 1976;Wheeler, 1984). In these studies, variation in the number of children is essentially the same as variation in the number of individuals in the household.…”