Division of Housework, Sexual Intimacy, and Relationship Quality in Different‐Sex and Same‐Sex Couples

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Abstract
Objective: This study compares associations between division of housework and relationship outcomes across members of different‐sex and same‐sex couples. Background: Different‐sex couples tend to report lower relationship quality when housework is divided in unequal and gendered ways. Because most research has focused on different‐sex couples, it remains unclear whether these associations stem from general fairness principles or a disruption of gender roles. These explanations can be disentangled by comparing associations in different‐sex and same‐sex couples. Method: These analyses use survey and time diary data from men and women in same‐sex or different‐sex couples ( N = 3455) from the National Couples' Health and Time Use Study . Regression with moderation by couple type examined associations between division of housework (both subjective satisfaction and more objective diary measures) and relationship and sexual satisfaction. Results: Across all couple types, partners who were more satisfied with the division of housework reported greater relationship and sexual satisfaction. For relationship satisfaction, associations were stronger for members of different‐sex couples than for same‐sex couples. For both outcomes, results were stronger for subjective self‐reports than for time diary data. Conclusion: The implications of household labor arrangements are not only a matter of fairness, but are also shaped by broader gendered structures, a pattern only made visible through attention to diverse couples. Stronger effects obtained with subjective compared to time diary measures further indicate that interpretations of housework, rather than objective time alone, are central to understanding links with relationship quality.
Funding Information
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD094081)
  • Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota (P2CHD041023)

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