Marital conflict about the division of household labor and paid work

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the relations between time use, dissatisfaction, and marital conflict about the division of house-hold labor and paid work. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 54 Dutch couples who were either expecting their first child or had a first child under 12 months old. Couples experienced more conflict about household labor than about paid work. Conflict about household labor was related solely to wives' dissatisfaction with the division of household labor which was predicted by both their own and their spouse's contribution to housework. Conflict about paid work revolved around both spouses' dissatisfaction with the husband's working hours. The majority of spouses preferred husbands to spend less time on paid work.