This study compares four theories of domestic labor in their ability to predict relative emotion-work performance among dual-earner couples. Specifically, the authors investigate the effects of gender ideology, time availability, relative resources, and crossover factors on the dependent variable of relative emotion-work performance using seemingly unrelated regression. The analysis is performed on data from a random sample (N = 156) of dual-earner couples in northern Utah. Results suggest that for men, partner's work-to-family spillover is negatively related to relative emotion work performance and men with more traditional gender ideologies report performing more emotion work relative to their partners. For both men and women, relative housework performance is positively related to relative emotion-work performance. The findings from the study suggest that new theories are needed to adequately predict this particular form of domestic labor.
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