Men doing more housework, may get more sex

CHICAGO, March 6 (UPI) -- U.S. men's contribution to housework has increased about 15 percent in the last 40 years, but the men may get more sex, research suggests.

A discussion paper summarizing research on changing family roles prepared for the 11th annual conference of the Council on Contemporary Families in Chicago April 25-26 says that by the early 21st Century, the average full- or part-time employed U.S. married woman with children was doing two hours less housework than in 1965. Men's housework load increased from around 15 percent to 30 percent during that time.

The report also found men's contributions to family work increases over time -- the longer their female partners have been in paid employment, the more family work they are likely to do.

Research by psychologist Joshua Coleman says wives report greater feelings of sexual interest and affection for husbands who participate in housework.

The most dramatic increase in men's contributions has been to childcare. From 1965 to 2003, men tripled the amount of time they spent in childcare. However, during this same period women doubled the time they spent in childcare and interaction, the report said.

This mutual increase appears to be related to higher standards by both mothers and fathers about spending time with children.