Domestic work division and satisfaction in cohabiting adults: Associations with life satisfaction and self-rated health
Sammanfattning
Background: The amount and perception of domestic work may affect satisfaction with everyday
life, but further knowledge is needed about the relationship between domestic work division
and health and well-being.
Aim: To describe the division of, and satisfaction with, domestic work and responsibility for
home/family in adults living with a partner. A further aim was to investigate the associations
between these aspects and self-rated life satisfaction and health.
Method: Data from the Work, Lipids and Fibrinogen survey collected 2009 were used, comprising
4924 participants living with a partner. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.
Results: The majority shared domestic work and responsibility for home/family equally with their
partner. However, more women conducted the majority of the domestic work and were less satisfied
with its division. When both division and satisfaction with division was included in the analysis,
solely satisfaction with the division and the responsibility were associated with higher odds
for good life satisfaction. Regarding health, higher odds for good self-rated health were seen in
those who were satisfied with their division of responsibility.
Conclusion and significance: The results highlight the importance of taking into account not
solely the actual division of domestic work but also the satisfaction with it.