All articles · 11 October 2026

Sharing the home: why chores matter

Who cooks, who cleans and who handles the paperwork sounds small. Research suggests it is not.

What surveys found

In a 2007 Pew Research Center survey of American adults, 62% said sharing household chores is very important for a successful marriage. That placed it third, after faithfulness (93%) and a happy sexual relationship (70%), and ahead of children.

What research found

A study of dual-earner couples found that feeling the division of housework was unfair went with lower marital happiness for both husbands and wives, and with higher odds of divorce among wives.

Agreeing on roles

There is no single right way to divide a home. What matters is that both of you see the arrangement as fair.

• Talk about what each of you saw at home growing up
• List the regular tasks and agree who leads each one
• Plan for changes: a new baby, a new job, caring for a parent
• Check in after a few months and adjust

Questions to ask each other

• Which household tasks do you enjoy, and which do you dislike?
• How did your parents share the work at home?
• Would you want help at home, and how would we pay for it?

Sources

1. Pew Research Center (2007). Modern Marriage.
2. Frisco, M. L., & Williams, K. (2003). Perceived housework equity, marital happiness, and divorce in dual-earner households. Journal of Family Issues, 24(1), 51-73.

These articles share research findings, not personal advice. Studies show patterns across many couples; your situation may differ.