Divorce 'less likely if fathers help out'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Married couples are less likely to divorce if husbands help more with housework, shopping and childcare after the birth of their first child, research suggests.
Economists have previously argued that rising divorce rates, which began in the early 1960s, were linked to steady increases in the numbers of married women working. It was claimed marriages where men took responsibility for paid work and women stayed at home left both spouses better off.
But a study of 3,500 British couples explodes the theory that marriages are most stable when men focus on paid work and women are responsible for housework.
It showed instead that a father's contribution to housework and childcare stabilised a marriage, regardless of the mother's employment status.
Dr Sigle-Rushton, a lecturer in social policy at the London School of Economics, said: "Economists have... paid very little attention to the behaviour of men.
"This research addresses that oversight and suggests that fathers' contribution to unpaid work at home stabilises marriage regardless of mothers' employment status."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments