Developing an Attitudes Toward Housecleaning Scale: Gender Comparisons and Counseling Applications

An Attitudes Toward Housecleaning Scale was tested with two diverse adult workforce samples, with one sample from the employees of a Holt Caterpillar dealership and the other from the faculty/staff at two universities. In both samples, a 13-item scale that assessed three factors, preferred level of cleanliness, liking of house-cleaning tasks, and gender attitudes related to housecleaning responsibilities, was supported by confirmatory factor analyses. In Study 2, men on average liked housecleaning more than women, whereas women typically felt more conflict, guilt, and resentment related to housework. Possible applications for couples in premarital and marital counseling are discussed.