The Division of Childcare, Relationship Quality, and Sexual Intimacy in Couples

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 08. The Division of Household Labor

Abstract

Increasingly, both mothers and fathers are expected to play an equal role in child rearing. Nonetheless, we know little about how childcare arrangements affect relationship quality, and more specifically sexual intimacy and sexual satisfaction. Previous research has focused on the effect of the division of paid labor and housework on couples’ relationships - finding that although egalitarianism is positively associated with increased relationship quality, it is negatively associated with sexual intimacy. These findings, nonetheless, come almost universally from data that is now 20 or more years old and ignore the division of childcare. In this study we add to this body of research by utilizing data from the 2006 Marital Relationship Study (MARS) (N = 974) to examine how the division of childcare affects the relationship quality and sexual intimacy of heterosexual couples. Results indicate that increases in men’s performance of childcare are generally associated with higher quality relationships, more satisfaction with the division of childcare, and higher quality sexual relationships for men and women, although we find some gender differences in these associations.

Authors

• Daniel L. Carlson, Georgia State University

• Sarah Hanson, Northern Illinois University

• Andrea Fitzroy, Georgia State University