Husbands' involvement in housework and women's psychosocial health: findings from a population-based study in Lebanon.
Author: Khawaja M, Habib RR.
Source:
American Journal of Public Health, 97(5), 860-866.
OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between husbands' involvement in
housework and the psychosocial health of their wives using data on married
couples living in poor neighborhoods in Beirut, Lebanon. METHODS: Data were
derived from a cross-sectional survey of 2797 households; 1652 married couples
and their families were included in the analysis. An index of husbands' relative
involvement in housework was constructed from 25 items focusing on division of
housework activities. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between
husbands' involvement in housework and wives' self-rated mental health status,
marital dissatisfaction, and unhappiness. RESULTS: Husbands' involvement in
housework was negatively associated with wives' psychological distress, marital
dissatisfaction, and overall unhappiness after adjustment for relevant risk
factors. In comparison with wives whose husbands were highly involved in
housework, wives whose husbands were minimally involved were 1.60 times more
likely to be distressed, 2.96 times more likely to be uncomfortable with their
husbands, and 2.69 times more likely to be unhappy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results
showed a significant association between husbands' involvement in housework and
their wives' psychosocial health.