This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The physical, cognitive and emotional loads of running a household should be recognized when examining the health of a couple's relationship, new research has found. A University of Queensland study examined the "tri-load" of household labor—physical (traditional chores such as washing, cleaning and cooking); cognitive (planning shopping lists, scheduling appointments); and emotional (anticipating, caring, comforting, consoling).
For the study published in Scientific Reports, Dr. Sarah Coundouris from UQ's School of Psychology examined how the division of labor for 235 heterosexual romantic couples was related to relationship quality. "Despite progress toward gender equality, women still take on most of the work involved in running a household," Coundouris said.
"Although this pattern was consistent across all three types of household labor, it was most noticeable for cognitive load. "Women reported taking on almost 25% more of the thinking, planning and scheduling involved in running the home and organizing family commitments than their partners reported." The study not only examined how much work each partner reported doing, but also how differences in their views of their contributions were linked to relationship quality. It found that when there were different views about how physical and emotional household duties were shared, couples reported greater unhappiness in the relationship, with this finding strongest for women.
Disparities in the perceived division of cognitive household demands were linked to poorer relationship quality only in men. "The findings indicate that two people in the same relationship may experience and interpret the division of household responsibilities very differently, and these differences matter for relationship quality," Coundouris said. "We found that the greater the difference between partners' views of how household labor was divided, the worse their relationship quality.
"The findings show the importance of categorizing household labor beyond traditional physical tasks and reveal that cognitive and emotional loads are also related to couples' relationship quality." Coundouris said the research added to the growing understanding of "invisible" mental demands associated with maintaining a household. "Household labor involves much more than physical chores," she said. "The thinking, planning, scheduling, anticipating and caring that is needed can be harder to see and acknowledge.
"By examining these different types of household labor, we have a more complete understanding of how both visible and less visible forms of housework relate to a couple's relationship." Coundouris said the results may help inform future evidence-based guidelines in relationship therapy aimed at fostering relationship quality and, in turn, enhancing overall health and well-being. She said future research is needed to understand household labor dynamics among diverse groups, such as the LGBTQIA+ community and new parents. Coundouris et al, A dyadic examination of the division of household labor and relationship quality from a tri-load perspective, Scientific Reports (2026).
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