Parental Time Use and the Gendered Socialization of Adolescents' Housework in China: A Cumulative Perspective

Journal article

Objective: This study examines how parental housework time and labor market participation during early childhood are associated with adolescents' housework participation. Background: Prior research shows that parental time use is associated with adolescents' housework in gendered ways. Drawing on gender performance theory, new home economics, and the cumulative disadvantage framework, this study assesses whether adolescents' housework participation is associated not only with contemporaneous parental behavior but also with parental behavior during early childhood. Method: Using longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Study (N = 1637), regression‐with‐residuals models estimate associations between parents' housework time and labor market participation during preschool (ages 0–5), early school years (ages 6–9), and adolescence (ages 10–15) and adolescents' housework participation. Results: Mothers' housework hours during preschool were positively associated with girls' adolescent housework participation but not boys'. Fathers' housework participation during adolescence showed a stronger contemporaneous association with boys' housework time. Fathers' labor market participation during adolescence was associated with higher housework participation among girls only. Mothers' labor market participation during early school years was also positively associated with girls' adolescent housework participation. Conclusion: Girls' housework socialization appears to begin in early childhood, whereas boys' housework participation is more strongly linked to contemporaneous parental behavior. Interventions aimed at reducing domestic gender inequality may benefit from targeting the preschool years.

Authors: Xue, K; Zheng, B

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Journal of Marriage and Family
• Article number: jomf.70066
• Publication date: 2026-02-19
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-02
• DOI: 10.1111/jomf.70066
• EISSN: 1741-3737
• ISSN: 0022-2445
• Language: English
• Keywords: time use; childhood; housework; inequality; gender; adolescence