The silver lining behind household chores
Researchers found that simple daily activities such as doing the dishes or folding clothes may help older women live longer. Doing something is better than nothing, even when at lower-than-guideline recommended levels of physical activity, said study lead author Michael LaMonte of the University at Buffalo in New York. He is a research associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health. LaMonte and his colleagues looked at more than 6,000 women, ages 63 to 99, in the United States. Those who did 30 minutes of light physical activity a day -- measured by an accelerometer -- had a 12 percent lower risk of death than inactive women.
Risk of death was 39 percent lower among women who did 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day, according to the study.
Light physical activity included regular tasks such as folding clothes, sweeping or washing windows. Moderate to vigorous activity included brisk walking or leisurely bicycling, the authors said in a university news release. While the study focused on older women, the bottom line applies to younger women and men, too: Its important to make physical activity a part of your life while youre younger so youre more likely to remain active as you age, the researchers said.
Women do twice as much housework as men even when they have done a full day in the office, according to new research.
Putting the bins out, DIY and changing lightbulbs are the only three household tasks for which men take primary responsibility.
By contrast, 36 other chores including vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, washing and ironing are done by women all or most of the time.
The findings come from a survey by Mumsnet, which questioned nearly 1,000 working mothers on the division of labour in their home.
It found that women spend an average 10 hours per week on household tasks, while men spend only five.
Only five per cent of men take responsibility for giving the house a weekly clean, compared to 71 per cent of women. In the remaining households, the task is shared equally.
Women are also chiefly responsible for managing their childrens lives, such as organising birthday parties, buying clothes and packing schoolbags.
When it comes to Christmas, 81% said they were responsible for making arrangements all or most of the time. Only one per cent said they partner was in charge, while 20 per cent said the burden was shared equally.
Yet two-thirds of women surveyed said they did not want their partner to do more, either because they were comfortable with the balance or because they believed men would not perform tasks to the requisite standards.
Justine Roberts, chief executive of Mumsnet, said: One in three working mums is the main family wage earner, a rise of one million over the last 18 years.
Despite this, women are still busting a gut back home, responsible for the vast majority of chores and domestic responsibilities. Its not surprising we still talk about glass ceilings and the lack of women at the top.
Most of us are just too exhausted to climb the greasy pole. A separate survey by BBC Radio 4s Womans Hour which questioned 1,001 men and women produced similar findings, with women estimating they spend 11.5 hours a week on housework compared to only six hours a week for men.
It found that two-thirds of respondents aged 18-34 said they argued with their partner over chores, but only one in three people aged 65 and over found housework to be a source of contention.
HealthDay
