Homework and Family Stress: With Consideration of Parents’ Self Confidence, Educational Level, and Cultural Background

Family stress was examined in the context of children's homework load and parents' perception of their capacity to assist their children with homework. Homework load was measured utilizing the 10 Minute Rule promulgated by the National Education Association. Family stress, measured by self-report, increased as homework load increased and as parent's perception of their capacity to assist decreased. Contrary to the 10 Minute Rule, primary school children received about three times the recommended load of homework. The amount of homework load reported also varied significantly between English and Spanish speakers, as it did between parents with limited education and those with advanced education.