We ran a survey in January 2014 to understand the impact of chores management on a couple relationship. We collected 504 responses from couples globally, with 5 in-depth interviews as the icing on the cake. Part 1:http://blog.dishout.us/the-difference-beween-men-and-women-the-awful-truth-part1/ Part 2: http://blog.dishout.us/relationships-chores-and-happiness-the-awful-truth-part-2/

1. Relationships, Chores and
Happiness.
Survey Results
by Etienne Do & Beatriz Bernal
07nd February, 2014

2. Introduction

MakeYourLifeAGame is launching Dish Out, a tasksharing mobile application that allows busy couples
to manage their household chores together

Dish Out falls into a new app category called
‘Quantified Relationship’, which applies the concept
of ‘Quantified Self’ to the couple. For more
information about this concept, please click here.

The objective of this study is to measure the impact
of chore management with different inputs within the
couple private sphere against the relationship’s
overall performance and satisfaction

3. Introduction

Hypothesis & Expectations
1.
Men and women have a different approach with regards
to household chores and evaluating their happiness in
the relationship
2.
This difference also varies with the relationship stage
3.
Cultural differences are observed across different
countries and regions
4.
Bad chore management within the couple have negative
impact on the relationship

4. Methodology

Online survey sent to family, friends and colleagues,
and expanded through Social Media during 7 days
with a small incentive

504 survey completions out of 902 survey started for
a completion rate of 55%

Qualitative capsule through 5 in-depth interviews

5. Methodology

The survey was composed of 27 questions:




Respondent Profile (4 questions)
Respondent Relationship Profile (13 questions)
Relationship and Chore Management (9 questions)
The 5 qualitative interviews were run in an average 1
hour format, following the survey framework.
Interviewees were chosen as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Diane H, France, 24, in a relationship for less than one year.
Jeremy S, UK, 30, in a relationship since 3 years
Martha F, Thailand, 34, in a relationship since 4 years
Chloe S, U.S.A, 28, engaged and in a relationship for 6 years
John K, Singapore, 45, married for more than 10 years

6. Respondents Profile

7. Respondents Profile
Respondents Gender
Quite balanced
gender distribution
with a majority of
women
43%
M
F
57%

8. Respondents Profile
Average Respondents Age
Respondents age average
is 32.4 years old, with male
respondents being slightly
older than women
33.4
31.7
M
F

9. Respondents Profile
Professional Status
1%
5%
Majority of
respondents (88%)
are working or
working from home
0%
6%
15%
Studying
Working
Working from home
Unemployed but looking for a job
Unemployed / Househusband / Housewife
Retired
73%

10. Couples Profile
Relationship Status
It's complicated Dating
1%
2%
• 48% of the
respondents declare
being in a relationship
• 49% are engaged or
married
Married
36%
In a relationship
48%
Engaged
13%

11. Couples Profile
Quite balanced distribution
in terms of relationship
length:
• 30% of respondents are in
a 2-year relationship or less
• 43% are in a 2-6 year
relationship
• 23% in a 6-10 year
relationship
• 3% are together since
more than10 years

12. Respondents Profile
Do you live with your Partner?
Majority of respondents (86%)
live with their partner
14%
Yes
No
86%

13. Couples Profile
How often do you argue?
• 71% of respondents have
a small argument at least
once a month or more
• 12 % of respondents have
a small argument more than
a week or more
12%
30%
28%
• 85% of have a big
argument less than once a
year
2%
36%
28%
22%
13%
0%
14%
8%
2%
Never
Almost
Never
At least once At least once At least once More than
a year
a month
a week
once a week
Small argument
Big argument
1%
4%
Every day

14. Chore Management in the Couple
How do you split the household tasks ?
• 66% of respondents
share their household
chores with their partner
6%
8%
We share them
I am doing most of it
20%
My partner is doing most of it
66%
Someone else does
everything for us
• 28% of respondents
have someone in the
couple that does most of it

15. Chore Management in the Couple
If you share them, how do you split
them?
11%
We have our own areas of
'expertise'
51%
38%
We distribute them together
as they come
One of us decides who does
what
• 51% of respondents split
their household chores
based on areas of
expertise

16. Respondents Profile Summary
504
28
57%
Respondents
Countries
Female
32.4
88%
Average age
Working
86%
Living with their
partner

17. Results
Men vs. Women

18. Results: Men vs. Women

Women are less happy in the way chores are
managed but happier in the relationship overall

19. Results: Men vs. Women

Chore-management Verbatims
“Sometimes, I have the feeling that if I don’t
do anything, nothing will get done”.
Martha F, 34, Thailand
“I think the way we manage chores is not
perfect but it works” Jeremy S, 30, London
Diane H, 24, France

20. Results: Men vs. Women

Women have a greater lack of affection than men
Do you receive enough signs of
affection from your partner?
(Female respondents)
Do you receive enough signs of
affection from your partner?
(Male respondents)
18%
29%
Yes
No
71%
82%

21. Results: Men vs. Women

Women expect their partner to do more. Men less.
Would you like your partner
to do more at home? (Female
respondents)
Would you like your partner
to do more at home? (Male
respondents)
24%
48%
Y
52%
N
76%

22. Results: Men vs. Women

Would you like your partner to do more? Verbatims
“I think we managed to find a good balance
John K, 45, Singapore
after all those years”
“Yes, especially for the wedding
Chloe S, 28, U.S.A
organisation”
Diane H, 24, France

23. Results: Men vs. Women
Women would like their partner to improve on
House Cleaning. Men want to see improvements
on Intimacy. Activities and Paperwork come
second and third for both genders.

Which category would you like
your partner to improve the
most? Top 3 answers from
women
180
Which category would you
like your partner to improve
the most? Top 3 answers from
men
60
160
140
50
120
40
100
30
80
60
20
40
10
20
0
0
House cleaning
Activities / Leisure
Paperwork
Intimacy
Activities / Leisure
Paperwork

24. Results: Men vs. Women
Women think they’re great at Shopping and
Groceries. Men think their top skill is Electronics

What are the top 3 household
tasks categories you excel the
most at? Men respondents
What are the top 3 household
tasks categories you excel the
most at? Women respondents
140
250
120
200
100
150
80
60
100
40
50
20
0
0
Shopping,
Groceries
Cooking
House Cleaning
Electronics
Activities Leisure Shopping, Groceries

25. Results
Relationship Stage

26. Results: Relationship Stage

Respondents Relationship Length Breakdown
How long have you been in your current relationship?
24%
19%
18%
15%
12%
8%
3%
Less than a year
1-2 years
2-4 years
4-6 years
6-10 years
10-20 years
Over 20 years

27. Results: Relationship Stage

Respondents Relationship Length Breakdown
How long have you been in your current relationship?
Young Couples
Established
Couples
Veteran Couples
24%
19%
18%
15%
12%
8%
3%
Less than a year
1-2 years
2-4 years
4-6 years
6-10 years
10-20 years
Over 20 years

28. Results: Relationship Stage
The younger and older the relationship is, the
happier people rate it with higher rating as the
couple grows old

Average Relationship Rating
9
8.8
8.6
8.4
8.2
8
7.8
7.6
7.4
Young Couples
Established Couples
Veteran Couples

29. Results: Relationship Stage

Chore management follow the same pattern, but
this time with young couple giving best ranking on
chore management in the couple
Average Chore Management Rating
7.5
7.4
7.3
7.2
7.1
7
6.9
6.8
6.7
6.6
6.5
Young Couples
Established Couples
Veteran Couples

30. Results: Relationship Stage

The same trend is observed when we look at how
the household chores are shared. Established
couples is the segment that shares them the less.
"We share household chores"
72%
70%
68%
66%
64%
62%
60%
58%
Young Couples
Established Couples
Veteran Couples

31. Results: Relationship Stage

How do you split chores? Verbatims
“We have our own areas of expertise which
makes a good relationship” Martha F, 34, Thailand
“It comes quite naturally now, we both know
what we have to do” John F, 45, Singapore
Diane H, 24, France

32. Results: Relationship Stage
As the relationship grows, couples tend to
specialize in their areas of expertise

How do you split the chores?
120%
100%
80%
We have our own areas of expertise
60%
We distribute them as they come
One of us decides who does what
40%
20%
0%
Young Couples
Established Couples
Veteran Couples

33. Results: Relationship Stage

Couples are less demanding about their partner at
the beginning of the relationship and when they’ve
been together for more than 6 years
Would you like your partner to do more at home?
51%
70%
73%
No
Yes
49%
30%
27%
Young Couples
Established Couples
Veteran Couples

34. Results: Relationship Stage
The longer the relationship, the lower the
satisfaction becomes regarding receiving signs of
affection

I receive enough signs of affection
82%
81%
80%
79%
78%
76%
74%
74%
72%
70%
Young Couples
Established Couples
Veteran Couples

35. Results: Relationship Stage

Signs of affection - Verbatims
“Small details are the ones that count the
most”
Chloe S, 28, USA
“Haha, you will see what happens after you
John F, 45, Singapore
get married”
Jeremy S, 30, UK

36. Results: Relationship Stage

The frequency of small arguments is quite stable
but seems to increase as the couple grow old
How often do you have a small argument?
30%
36%
43%
Once a week or more
Between once a year and once a month
Almost never or never
48%
53%
43%
11%
15%
Established Couples
Veteran Couples
22%
Young Couples

37. Results: Relationship Stage

After being in a relationship for more than 6 years,
big arguments tend to disappear
How often do you have a big argument?
2%
3%
4%
11%
39%
46%
Once a week or more
Between once a year and once a month
Almost never or never
85%
59%
Young Couples
51%
Established Couples
Veteran Couples

38. Results
West vs. East

39. Results: West vs. East

We will now split the respondents into 2 main
regions: West and East*
Singapore
Thailand
Malaysia
Philippines
Taiwan
Vietnam
Cambodia
India
Nepal
135
12
9
7
6
5
4
3
2
United States
United Kingdom
France
Spain
Germany
Malta
Australia
Switzerland
New Zealand
Belgium
Italy
Latvia
Denmark
Luxembourg
Ireland
118
77
45
28
11
10
8
4
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
Responses from Middle East, South America and Africa have been removed

40. Results: West vs. East

Western couples are better at managing chores,
but Eastern couples rate themselves higher
Responses from Middle East, South America and Africa have been removed

41. Results: West vs. East

Western couples are more satisfied of the level of
affection received
Responses from Middle East, South America and Africa have been removed

42. Results: West vs. East

Whilst it’s relatively close, Eastern couples are the
ones that want their partner to do more
Responses from Middle East, South America and Africa have been removed

43. Results: West vs. East

Eastern couples show more frequent small
arguments
Responses from Middle East, South America and Africa have been removed

44. Results: West vs. East

And they also show more frequent big arguments
than Western couples
Responses from Middle East, South America and Africa have been removed

45. Results: Relationship Stage

Arguments - Verbatims
“We get mad at each other for stupid things.
The day after we have forgotten” Martha F, 34, Thailand
“A good argument is sometimes good for the
John F, 45, Singapore
relationship”
Jeremy S, 30, UK

46. Results
Bad Chore Management and Relationship

47. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship
• 72% agree or strongly agree
that bad household chores
management can affect a
couple relationship
• 13% disagree or strongly
disagree

48. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship
• 57% agree or strongly agree
that bad household chores
management can be a break
up motive
• 21% disagree or strongly
disagree

49. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship
Couples that have a small argument more than
once a week rate themselves the lowest in chore
management and overall relationshipp rating

Small Arguments and Impact on Relationship Ratings
10
9.5
9
8.5
8
7.5
7
6.5
6
5.5
5
Almost Never or Never
Between once a year and once a month
Average Chore Management Rating
Once a week or more
Overall Relationship Rating

50. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship
Similar trend is observed for big arguments

Big Arguments and Impact on Relationship Rating
10
9.5
9
8.5
8
7.5
7
6.5
6
5.5
5
Almost Never or Never
Between once a year and once a month
Average Chore Management Rating
Once a week or more
Overall Relationship Rating

51. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship

The more they share, the higher rating is given

52. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship

Similar but softer trend is observed against overall
relationship rating
Chore Management vs. Overall Relationship Rating
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Below Average Rating (between 1-7)
Average Rating (between 8-9)
We share them
We have our own areas of expertise
Above Average Rating (10)

53. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship
Household Task Management and
Relationship Rating
Series1
• The correlation factor
between Household Chores
Management Rating and
Overall Relationship rating is
.58
Series2
21%
34%
11%
34%
26%
3%
22%
3%
0%
1
0%
1%
2
1%
3%
0%
4%
9%
3
4
5
12%
12%
4%
6
7
8
9
10

54. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship

Bad Chore Management = Breakup? Verbatims
“Yes, if the guy doesn’t do anything, it’s a
problem for me”
Martha F, 34, Thailand
“Agree, but I think less likely to happen after
a few years together” John F, 45, Singapore
Jeremy S, 30, UK

55. Results: Bad Chore Management and
Relationship

Bad Chore Management = Breakup? Verbatims
“That’s a bit extreme but I understand that it
can happen”
Diane S, 24, France
“Possible, but it’s not a fatality, people can fix
these kind of issues” Chloe S, 28, USA

56. Thank You!
contact@makeyourlifeagame.com