earticle

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This study examined the effects of the division of household labor on the marital satisfaction of husbands and wives in dual-earner families. Data were collected from 193 couples in dual-earner families; the questionnaire measurements were based on recommendations from the literature review. The questionnaire consisted of inquiries concerning gender role attitudes, marital communication efficiency, division of household labor, satisfaction in the division of household labor, and marital satisfaction. Each of these categories had an individual measurement scale that enabled measurement of its impact on marital satisfaction. The major findings of this study are as follows: The couples in dual-earner families showed egalitarian gender role attitudes and high levels of marital communication efficiency. They also reported high levels of satisfaction with their division of household labor and their marital lives. Wives in dual-earner families had more egalitarian gender role attitudes compared with their husbands, and husbands perceived themselves to be investing more time in performing household chores (that is, in the division of household labor) than was perceived by their wives. Husbands were also more satisfied with the division of household labor and marital life compared to their wives. Finally, hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that satisfaction in the division of household labor and in marital communication efficiency (as perceived by the couples) significantly predicted husbands’ marital satisfaction. On the other hand, wives’ age, marital communication efficiency, and the differences in the division of household labor (as perceived by the couples) significantly predicted wives’ marital satisfaction.