Is sharing the housework the secret of a happy marriage?
The next time your other half complains about the lack of work you do around the house, it would be wise to take note. Sharing household chores is one of the most important factors in a happy marriage – and far more significant than having children, a study has found. The findings, from an American survey of more than 2,000 people, show the extent to which couples no longer see parenthood as central to their relationship, instead favoring “personal satisfaction”, said researchers. Having a good sex life, a nice house and shared tastes and interests were also put ahead of raising a family in the study of couples’ priorities by the respected Pew Research Center in Washington. Overall, having children came eighth out of a list of nine factors seen as contributing to a successful marriage – a drop of five places on the same survey in 1990. Top was “faithfulness”, followed by “a happy sexual relationship”, with “sharing household chores” in third. However, while playing down the significanc
