Increased Household Responsibility During COVID-19 Is Associated With Higher Current Parenting Responsibility Among Fathers, but Not Mothers

Background and Objectives: While several studies have described short-term increases in fathers’ reports of household labor during the pandemic, few have reported on longer-term trends. We estimated the association between recalled changes in household responsibilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and current health-related parental responsibility. Methods: Father-mother dyads with young children (n = 253) completed surveys. We used Actor-Partner Interdependence Models to estimate the association between recalled household responsibility change during the pandemic and current health-related parental responsibility. Results: Recalled increases in household responsibility during the pandemic were associated with higher current health-related parental responsibility among fathers (β= 0.05, SE = 0.03), though not mothers. Conclusions: The pandemic may have catalyzed increases in father responsibility and facilitated a shift towards more egalitarian household labor divisions. Findings pose design implications for parenting interventions; for example, programs may shift from mother-focused to family-systems approaches, include content that reflect more egalitarian care, and incorporate curricula that address fathers’ increasing responsibilities.