Value preferences of spouses and division of domestic labor in the family: A dyadic study

• Published date: 01 October 2023
• Author: Eugene Tartakovsky
• Date: 01 October 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12774

RESEARCH

Value preferences of spouses and division of domestic

labor in the family: A dyadic study

Eugene Tartakovsky

The School of Social Work, Tel-Aviv

University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Correspondence Eugene Tartakovsky, The Bob

Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv

University, P.O.B. 39040, Tel Aviv, 69978,

Israel.

Email: etartakov@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effect of the spouses’

value preferences on the division of domestic labor in the

family.

Background: Personal value preferences reflect general

motivations and thus affect individuals’perception of real-

ity and direct behavior. In the present study, I assumed

that the personal value preferences of spouses motivate

them to participate in different domains of domestic labor

to varying degrees.

Method: The study was conducted in Israel using a sample

of heterosexual couples having at least one child

(N=479). I measured the value preferences of the spouses

and division of domestic labor in the family in four

domains: traditionally female chores, traditionally male

chores, childcare, and emotion work. Dyadic data analysis

was conducted using structural equation modeling.

Results: Among husbands, a higher preference for the self-

transcendence values was associated with a more equal

division of domestic labor in the family; that is, with a

larger share of husbands in traditionally female chores,

childcare, and emotion work, and with their smaller share

in traditionally male chores. Among wives, higher prefer-

ences for openness to change and self-enhancement values

were associated with a more equal division of domestic

labor in the family.

Conclusion: The results confirmed that the spouses’general

motivational goals expressed in their value preferences

affected their participation in different domains of domes-

tic labor.

Implications: The study advances researchers’and practi-

tioners’understanding of the intrapersonal motivational

Author note: A full data set can be obtained from the author. All procedures performed in studies involving humanparticipants were in

accordance with the ethical standards of the Tel-Aviv University research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its

later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Received: 22 July 2021Revised: 4 July 2022Accepted: 10 July 2022

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12774

© 2022 National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2023;72:1993–2009. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 1993

factors affecting the division of domestic labor and pro-

vides a solid basis for further research and counseling work

with families.

KEYWORDS

childcare, division of domestic labor, dyadic analysis, emotion work,

gender inequality, personal value preferences, traditionally female chores,

traditionally male chores

In modern society, the division of domestic labor remains an important topic of public dis-

course and scientific endeavor. There are two main reasons for this. First, despite some pro-

gress, inequality in the division of domestic labor persists all over the world (Davis &

Greenstein, 2004; Fuwa, 2004; Mencarini & Sironi, 2012). Second, a more equal division of

domestic labor is associated with spouses’higher levels of satisfaction with family life and psy-

chological well-being (Frisco & Williams, 2003; Jackson et al., 2014; Minnotte et al., 2010;

Strazdins & Broom, 2004; Stevens et al., 2005; Toth, 2008).

Factors affecting the division of domestic labor have been investigated in many studies. The

macro-level studies have focused on gender-related power and socialization (Fuwa, 2004;

Hochschild, 2003). Individual-level studies have focused on sociodemographic and economic

variables (Sayer & Nicholson, 2006; Zafirovski, 2005). Studies focused on the psychological

variables have mainly investigated the role of gender identity in the division of domestic labor

(De Ruijter et al., 2005; Natalier, 2003). Previous studies advanced researchers’understanding

of the sociopsychological processes related to the division of domestic labor. However, enough

is still not known about the individual motivations for participation in domestic labor. What

drives spouses to greater or lesser participation in domestic labor, and what are their motiva-

tional goals when doing different types of domestic labor? Several studies have attempted to

answer these questions, considering participation in domestic labor (or avoiding it) an expres-

sion of the spouses’motivation to prove their power and attain goals consistent with their gen-

der ideology and identity (Hochschild, 2003; Wilcox & Nock, 2006). In the present study, I

continue these efforts by investigating connections between general motivational goals

expressed in individual value preferences and the division of domestic labor in the family.

In the present study, I focus on the intrapersonal psychological factors (individual motiva-

tional goals expressed in personal value preferences). Previous studies have demonstrated that

individual-level factors, such as attitudes, motivations, and perceptions, profoundly affect

behavior (Ajzen, 1991; Bosnjak et al., 2020; Hitlin, 2003; Hitlin & Pinkston, 2013). However,

the individual-level psychological approach does not refute the role of macro-level factors in

human behavior. It rather complements the macro-level approach because some macro-level

factors may affect human behavior through individual-level variables. For instance, gender-

related social norms and inequality may differently affect the personal motivations of men and

women, as well as their perceived behavioral control and attitudes (Ajzen, 1991; Schwartz &

Rubel, 2005).

I used the theory of human values (Schwartz et al., 2012) to examine the connection between

individual motivational goals and participation in domestic labor. This theory presents a com-

prehensive system of human motivations corroborated as near-universal across different cul-

tures (Schwartz et al., 2012; Sagiv & Schwartz, 2022). Numerous studies have demonstrated

that values have a profound effect on human cognition, emotions, and behavior (Bardi &

Schwartz, 2003; Roccas & Sagiv, 2010; Sagiv & Roccas, 2021; Sagiv & Schwartz, 2000;

Schwartz et al., 2012; Tamir et al., 2016). However, value preferences have rarely been investi-

gated in the family context, whereby most existing studies have focused on the values’similarity

of the spouses (Gaunt, 2006; Leikas et al., 2018; Luo et al., 2008). In the present study, I

1994 FAMILY RELATIONS