Study reveals cognitive burden of household chores impacts mothers' mental health

A recent study highlights that mothers not only perform more household chores but also bear a greater share of the mental planning involved. Mothers handle about 73% of cognitive tasks and 64% of physical tasks, leading to increased stress and mental health issues. The research indicates that this cognitive load, which includes anticipating needs and organizing tasks, significantly impacts women's mental well-being. While unequal physical task division affects relationship quality, the cognitive burden has a more profound effect on mothers' mental health. The study suggests that the unequal division of household labor contributes to broader gender inequities and may affect women's participation in the workforce. Future research could explore the long-term effects of this cognitive load and include diverse family structures.