Unveiling the Relationships Between Household Labor and Maternal Well-Being

Abstract

In this study, we investigated whether mothers' engagement in household labor, and perceptions of their own and partner's increased household labor, relate to maternal well-being (burnout and flourishing) and mental health (anxiety and depression). Mothers of children under the age of 18 (N = 213) completed online questionnaires. Mothers' total time spent on household labor was associated with increased odds of having clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression and lower levels of flourishing. Similarly, mothers' perceptions that they had increased their household labor was associated with burnout and increased odds of having clinically significant levels of anxiety. However, perceptions that one's partner/other adult had increased their labor was associated with mothers' lower levels of burnout, lower odds of having clinically significant anxiety, and more flourishing. These findings can assist with providing support for mothers and improving their well-being. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.