Housework Time of Husband and Wife

This study examined factors related to the time husbands and wives spent in housework. The sample consisted of 1,156 structurally intact families in which the spouses were able‐bodied and less than 65 years of age. Data were from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Multiple regression analysis was the statistical procedure used in this study. Variables related to wife's housework time were her employment status, family size, and husband's employment characteristics. The most im portant factor which placed a constraint upon the wife's housework hours was time spent in the labor force, while family size served as a pressure to increase housework time. Husbands allocated relatively little time to housework and a low level of explained variance in husband's housework hours was achieved. Husband's employment limited his time inputs to housework. Wife's average hourly earnings and wife's labor force hours were positively related to husband's housework hours, although the impact was quite modest. Consideration was given to the reciprocal relationship be tween husband's and wife's role performance and possible implications for family time manage ment.