Couples' sexuality: Relation to gender role attitudes and division of household labor

This study examined the ability of division of household labor (Household Labor Score), along with gender role attitudes (Sex Role Egalitarianism Scale), to predict sexual attitudes (Sexual Double Standard Score) and sexual behavior (Sexual History Form and Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness). These four domains are thought to exist on a dimension of traditionalism to non-traditionalism or egalitarianism. The study also attempted to examine the predictive relationship between sexual attitudes and behaviors and relationship satisfaction (Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale) within the context of gender role attitudes and household labor scores, in order to determine which variables were best able to predict relationship satisfaction. The sample is composed of 87 women ranging in age from 21 to 56 years and in a committed heterosexual relationship. Participants responded to flyers, internet postings, and emails. Data were collected through mailed surveys. This study utilized a hierarchical regression analysis in order to examine the incremental predictive ability of household labor scores. Results indicated gender role attitude scores significantly predicted attitudes toward sexuality; the more participants endorsed egalitarian gender role attitudes, the more they describe their sexual attitudes as egalitarian. Division of household labor and gender role attitudes significantly predicted sexual behavior when combined, and the unique contribution of household labor scores to the regression was significant; the more participants described egalitarian division of household labor, the more they depicted their sexual behavior as egalitarian. The regression analysis of relationship satisfaction and the four predictor variables was problematic to accurately interpret because of the likelihood of decreased validity of the criterion variable and violations of both normality and homoscedasticity assumptions.