Children’s Participation in Household Tasks: Caregiver Importance and Satisfaction

Abstract

Attribution of importance and satisfaction with performance are key dimensions contributing to engagement in occupations. This study explored caregiver satisfaction with and importance attributed to the participation of their children and adolescents in household tasks. Participants included 109 caregivers of children and adolescents of both sexes, aged 6 to 14 years, from various socioeconomic levels. They were interviewed with two questions of the Children Helping Out: Responsibilities, Expectations and Supports (CHORES), with ratings of importance and satisfaction on Likert-type scales, and asked to explain their ratings. We examined the association between the two dimensions. Results showed no correlation between caregivers’ ratings of satisfaction and importance (r_s = .04; p = .699). The majority of caregivers evaluated their children’s participation in domestic care as very important, explaining in terms of the need for children’s autonomy in adulthood. Caregivers’ satisfaction was attributed to children’s attitudes. The expressed ideal of children’s future autonomy by caregivers is not converted to current engagement in household task.