Journal of Occupational Health
Online ISSN : 1348-9585
Print ISSN : 1341-9145
ISSN-L : 1341-9145
Original Articles
Gender differences in housework and childcare among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Toshihide SakuragiRie TanakaMayumi Tsuji Seiichiro TateishiAyako HinoAkira OgamiMasako NagataShinya MatsudaYoshihisa Fujinofor the CORoNaWork Project
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JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2022 Volume 64 Issue 1 Article ID: e12339

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Abstract

Objectives: Although gender stereotypes regarding paid work and unpaid work are changing, most wives are responsible for taking care of the family and home in Japan. It is unclear how time spent on housework and childcare has changed between working men and women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. The purpose of this study is to investigate how working men and women’s responsibilities for housework and childcare changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan depending on work hours, job type, the number of employees in the workplace, and frequency of telecommuting.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis (N = 14,454) was conducted using data from an Internet monitoring study (CORoNa Work Project), which was conducted in December 2020. A multilevel logistic model with nested prefectures of residence was conducted to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for change in time devoted to housework and childcare among men and women adjusting for age, household income, presence of spouse who work, work hours, job type, the number of employees in the workplace, frequency of telecommuting, and the incidence rate of COVID-19 by prefecture.

Results: More women tended to perceive that their time of housework and/or childcare had been changed (increased housework: OR 1.92, 95% CI [1.71-2.16], P < .001; decreased workhours: 1.66 (1.25-2.19), P < .001: increased childcare: OR 1.58, 95% CI [1.29-1.92], P < .001; decreased childcare: 1.11 (0.62-2.00), P = .719).

Conclusions: The time spent by women on housework and childcare changed significantly compared to men during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

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© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Occupational Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japan Society for Occupational Health.

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